JEDDAH — Foul play is involved in the fire that broke out in Briman Municipality five months ago, a committee probing the incident has said. Police sources said the committee has referred the case back to police for further investigations. The special committee, comprising representatives from five departments, investigated five employees from the municipality in addition to a businessman linked to the case. The committee questioned the businessman on why he was at the scene right after the fire. The businessman responded that he was at the municipality to process some paperwork. Police suspected the businessman after the head of the municipality branch informed officers the suspect had threatened him a few days before the incident. Early investigations revealed there were traces of gasoline inside the archives room where the fire started. The blaze damaged more than 2,500 out of 10,000 pieces of paperwork. Police sources revealed the businessman had good connections with several municipality workers. They added it was possible the businessman might have bribed some of the employees. Municipal employees will face criminal charges if suspicions of bribery are proven.
