Indictments Handed Up in Deutsche Bank Fire

New York, NY —

Sixteen months after two firefighters died in a fire in the ill-fated Deutsche bank building at the World Trade Center, Manhattan DA Robert Morganthau has gotten an indictment against private sector construction officials and a subcontractor.

Indicted on manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide are Jeffrey Melfochik with primary contractor Bovis. and Mitchel Alvo and Salvatore DePaola with Galt Corporation.

Morgenthau says Bovis wasn't indicted, because it's a multi-national construction concern with billions in public contracts.

MORGENTHAU: The federal government made a huge mistake I think when they indicted Arthur Anderson when there were six people involved and they put 30,000 people out of work. You see if we indicted Bovis the only penalty would have been a $10,000 a fine.

REPORTER: Morgenthau also sharply criticized the FDNY for failing to inspect the former Deutche Bank tower and the City's Department of Buildings for how it regulated the site damaged and contaminated in the September 1th attacks.

For WNYC I am Bob Hennelly.