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2nd suspect detained in connection with S Moscow market fire case

Investigators currently question Stepanyan as a suspect

MOSCOW, April 4 (Itar-Tass) — A second suspect -- the owner of the firm that had leased the marketplace depot -- has been detained, Viktoria Tsyplenkova, an official at the Main Inquiry Directorate of the Investigation Committee of the Russian Federation for the city of Moscow told Itar-Tass late on Tuesday night.

"Sedrak Stepanyan has been detained as a second suspect in connection with the market fire case. He is the actual owner of the OOO Albaset limited liability company which leased the depot, operated it, and made arrangements for the work of illegal migrants. The suspect was detained with the assistance of city police. The fire had occurred at the market on the Varshavskoye shosse (Warsaw Highway) on Tuesday mornaing," Tsyplenkova said.

Investigators currently question Stepanyan as a suspect. The question of choosing a measure of restraint with regard to him is under consideration.

According to preliminary data, the fire -- in which 17 workers died -- could be caused by the thermal effect of a heater. Criminal proceedings were instituted in connection with the case under the provisions of Article 219, Part 3, of the Penal Code of the Russian Federation ("A breach of fire prevention rules that entailed the deah of two or more persons through negligence".

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