Victor Daniel Paiva, son of the supermarket owner prepares to meet his lawyer, Aug. 2, 2004.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

Juan Pio Paiva, owner of the supermarket(R) and his son Victor Daniel Paiva(L) are accused of deliberately closing the doors when the market caught fire so that people could not leave without paying, Aug. 2, 2004.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

    BUENOS AIRES, Aug. 3 (Xinhuanet) -- The owner of a Paraguayan supermarket destroyed by fire was held in preventive detention with his son on Tuesday as the Attorney General's office ordered, reports from Paraguay's capital Asuncion said.

    Juan Pio Paiva and his son Victor Daniel Paiva were accused of manslaughter and may face sentences of up to 25 years in prison.

    Prosecutor for the case, Edgar Sanchez, said several eyewitnesses said Victor Daniel Paiva ordered supermarket guards to close gates to prevent people from leaving without paying.

    Sanchez also issued an order to confiscate Paiva's assets worth12 million US dollars.

    Lawyer Enrique Bachetta has abstained from defending Paiva, saying that he could not do it for ethical reasons as many of his friends and relatives were victims of the flames.

    Paiva denied again on Monday that any order was issued to prevent people from escaping fire.

    When people "inside the building were about to leave, a roof collapsed and completely blocked the entrance. So people could not leave and became trapped inside," Paiva told the press.

    The businessman added, "What happened is that the doors can only be open inwards, and those trapped were pushing them outwards."

    The Attorney General's office also filed charges against security guards Daniel Areco, Ever Sanchez, Jorge Penayo and Ismael Alcaraz who obeyed the order and locked the exits of the supermarket after the blaze broke out.

    The fire broke out when the supermarket was crowded with Sunday midday shoppers. Reports said nearly 1,000 people had been inside the shopping center, which is part of the complex that also houses offices and an underground parking lot.

    The death toll soared to 464 on Tuesday . It may rise further as firemen, rescue worker and police agents worked to remove the debris. Enditem