‘No evidence of crime’ in shop fire case

The Judiciary Police (PJ) has revealed to the Times that it “did not find evidence of any crime involved” in a fire that broke out on Nov 12 in a small shop, killing four Southeast Asian migrant workers who allegedly lived in an attic above the boutique.
Witnesses, as well as the Peduli Indonesian Migrant Concern Group, have acknowledged that a total of six non-resident workers were living there, but the shop owner told authorities that only their domestic helper was living above the small store.
Leader of the Peduli Indonesian Migrant Concern Group, Cindry Purnasari, told the Times early last week that, according to her sources, the six people who were living there paid about a MOP1,000 rent to the shop owner.
The widow of the Filipino migrant who died in the fire revealed last week that she was living above the shop too, but was not at home when the fire broke out. She also confirmed that they were paying the rent to an Indonesian woman [one of the victims] with whom they shared the attic. She would then give the money collected to the shop owner.
Replying to The Times’ queries, the PJ recalled that it “is responsible for investigating criminal cases” and so far they have not found evidence of any crimes involved in the shop fire case, even though it appears that the boutique does not meet fire safety requirements.
They are treating the fire as an accident, although investigations haven’t been completed.  The PJ added that the cause of the fire remains under scrutiny.
The fire broke out at the small store in the early hours of Nov 12, leaving four trapped inside. PJ confirmed that they all died of smoke inhalation. The four victims were two Indonesians (one male, one female) and two Filipino nationals.  CP