Two suspects in Latvia's store collapse case released from custody

A court in Riga ruled to release two suspects in the case of a deadly collapse of a Maxima supermarket in the Latvian capital in 2013, the local media reported.

Ivars Sergets, a civil engineer, and Andris Gulbis, a construction inspector who had examined the Maxima supermarket building after its completion, were released after the Riga Regional Court heard their detention appeals in separate hearings on Monday.

Sergets' lawyer Arturs Zvejsalnieks told the Baltic News Service that there were no reasons to keep his client in custody because Sergets had been cooperating with investigators, providing testimonies, and had made no attempt to leave Latvia.

The lawyer called law enforcement authorities' concerns that Sergets might try to coordinate his testimonies absurd.

Gulbis' lawyer Vaida Davidsone said that police would decide on a new restrictive measure for his client.

Sergets and Gulbis are two of the three suspects named so far in the Maxima store collapse.

The third suspect is architect Andris Kalinka who headed the supermarket's design project. The assets of the Kubs architect firm, owned by the Kalinka family, have been confiscated, and Kalinka has been placed under police supervision and banned from leaving the country.

As many as 54 people lost their lives and scores of others were injured when the roof of a Maxima supermarket in Riga caved in on Nov. 21, 2013.

A criminal investigation has started into the deadly accident which is thought to be caused by several factors, including errors in construction designs, neglect on the part of the builders or the supermarket operator. Enditem