NZer detained over Polish roof collapse

A New Zealand man is being questioned in Poland today over the collapse of a crowded exhibition hall in the south of the country last month in which 65 people died.

Bruce Robinson, managing director of Expomedia, the London-based parent company of International Katowice Fairs (MTK) which owned the building, was picked up in Warsaw yesterday and taken to Katowice for questioning by a prosecutor.

Two other members of the management team have been detained with him.

The snow-laden corrugated iron roof of the vast exhibition hall in the southern industrial town of Chorzow caved in on January 28 when about 200 people were inside attending one of Europe's biggest racing pigeon shows.

The death toll made the collapse Poland's worst building accident.

Polish Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro said the three men would be charged with "provoking a disaster" and faced "between six months and eight years in jail".

However, MTK spokeswoman Agata Markowska said this morning the men were only being questioned at this stage and no decision on charges had been made.

"I have to admit that we are very surprised by such a radical move in bringing Mr Robinson to the prosecutors office."

Mr Robinson had been working closely with the prosecutor's office and police since the tragedy and had made many statements to the prosecutor, Ms Markowska said.

Polish officials have been conducting three separate probes into the accident: one into the design of the exhibition hall, one into its construction, and one into its maintenance.

The three men being held in custody faced charges "related to the maintenance of the building," Mr Ziobro said, adding that the "circle of people who face charges could well grow" as the inquiries continued.

Ms Markowska said an official announcement on whether the men would be charged was expected tomorrow morning (tomorrow night NZT).

Preliminary inquiries had shown MTK was negligent on several counts, including its failure to remove snow from the roof of the hall.

However, there have been conflicting theories about the cause of the tragedy.

Polish media have reported that managers of the trade show taking place at the time claimed all the snow had been cleared from the roof but television footage showed that this was not the case.

A Belgian witness said the floor collapsed before the roof. That could indicate the building had sunk into a weak or hollow area that had opened up beneath the building.

The investigation is expected to explore construction methods and how the materials reacted to the bitterly cold temperatures outside the building and the heated interior.

John Roy, the honorary Polish consul in New Zealand, said today the Polish winter was one of the worst on record, with extreme snowfalls and temperatures dropping to minus 30degC.

He said after the collapse the survivors would have had little chance of surviving the bitter cold. They probably would have died in less than an hour in the conditions.

Shortly after the collapse, Mr Robinson said the reasons for it were not clear.

He said Expomedia organised the fair and that it was working with the authorities to find out what had happened and why.

Ms Markowska told National Radio today the building was built by the City of Katowice and bought by MTK in 2001.

"We are very, very upset at the situation and want to know what really happened," she said.

A Polish Radio reporter said the prosecutor's office made it clear "very strongly" that there was suspicion that either Mr Robinson or the two other company officials detained might try to leave the country, which was why they had been taken into custody today.

New Zealand Embassy first secretary consul in Poland Mike Grace said officials were "monitoring the situation closely" but had not been asked to provide assistance. They would make contact with Mr Robinson in the morning.

The embassy's role would be limited primarily to ensuring Mr Robinson's welfare, notifying relatives and ensuring he had adequate legal representation.

It is understood Mr Robinson has already contacted his lawyer.

- NZPA