Main suspect in fire that killed 46 people in Taiwan arrested
Beijing, Oct 16 (EFE).- The Taiwanese authorities have arrested a woman surnamed Huang on suspicion of negligent homicide in connection with a building fire that killed 46 people and left dozens of injured in the south of the country last week.
The Kaohsiung District Court ordered Huang’s arrest late Friday, state-owned news agency CNA reported.
Both Huang, 51, and her boyfriend, surnamed Kuo, 52, were questioned for several hours by the Kaohsiung District Prosecutors Office earlier on Friday after which the arrest warrant was issued.
Kuo was released on bail of NT$ 60,000 (about $2,145) as his involvement in the case was less serious, according to the prosecutors.
According to the prosecutor’s investigation, Kuo and Huang were drinking alcohol with another man in a room in the building on Wednesday evening.
Kuo left the room, “possibly after a quarrel with his girlfriend,” followed by the other man shortly thereafter.
The investigation indicates that Huang was the last person to leave the room and that the fire started shortly after she left.
Surveillance camera footage shows that Huang left the building at 2:16 am on Thursday and at 2:40 am, someone informed the police that there was smoke coming out of the room, the agency reported.
The prosecutors have pointed out inconsistencies in the statements made by Huang during her interrogation including regarding what she did with the incense before leaving the room, which could have started the fire that left 46 dead and 41 people hospitalized. EFE
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