A massive fire breaks out at a 13-storey building in Giza (courtesy of the Giza governorate office)
The general prosecution on Sunday appealed a judicial decision to release the owner of a residential building in Giza, which had been on fire for 10 days in late-January and early-February before being demolished earlier this month, on bail.
The building’s owner is accused of endangering citizens’ lives and establishing a building without a permit. He was set to be released on an EGP 5-million-bail earlier on Sunday before the prosecution appealed the decision.
An official statement said a session will be held to hear the prosecution’s appeal but did not set a date. As per law, the defendant will not be released unless the prosecution’s appeal is rejected.
The 13-storey building near the Ring Road in the crowded governorate was ravaged by fire for around 10 days starting 30 January.
The fire originated at a shoe warehouse in the building’s basement.
The building consisted of 108 apartments, 15 of which were occupied. The residents were evacuated and no casualties were reported.
The building owner was arrested in February.
In March, authorities demolished the building by implosion.
The Public Prosecution accuses the building owner of constructing an unlicensed building and failing to remove illegal parts of the building.
He is also accused of not taking the precautionary measures against fire and not following safety measures to protect the building from physical dangers.
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