MOSCOW, October 12 (RAPSI) – The Kemerovo Regional Court has upheld a lower court’s ruling to extend detention for two ex-Emergency Ministry officials Grigory Terentyev and Alexander Mamontov involved in a case over tragic fire in Zimnyaya Vishnya (Winter Cherry) mall that left 60 people dead, the court’s press service has told RAPSI.

Therefore, ex-chief of the ministry’s directorate for Kemerovo Terentyev and ex-director of the ministry’s department for Kemerovo Region Mamontov will stay jailed November 25 and December 25 respectively.

Investigators claim that Mamontov and Terentyev have not organized safety inspection in the mall since 2017 despite knowing that one should have been completed before March 18. In addition, Mamontov used his position to embezzle 1.8 million rubles ($27,000) from the Ministry and used it for benefit of other persons, according to the Investigative Committee.

The fire occurred in the mall on March 25. According to investigators, 60 people including dozens of children were killed by fire. Initially it was reported that 64 people died.

A criminal case has been launched over involuntary manslaughter, violation of fire safety regulations that left more than two persons dead and provisions of services that don’t meet safety requirements.

There are twelve defendants in the case. Investigation into seven defendants in the case is complete. Probe into five other defendants is still ongoing.