MOSCOW, January 13 - RAPSI. Investigators have detained the director of Il Pittore restaurant in Moscow where an explosion killed three and injured 38 people on January 9, the Investigative Committee reports.

"Moscow investigative authorities have detained Suren Mkrtchan, General Director of Kasabella company which owns the restaurant," the committee's website says.

The explosion occurred in the Italian cuisine restaurant on Monday killing two restaurant staff. Another employee died of burns in a Moscow hospital on Thursday. According to the investigators 38 people were injured and sent to hospital.

The criminal case was opened for several offences, including infliction of death by negligence punishable up to four years in prison.

Currently investigators are interrogating Mkrtchan as a suspect and intend to request an arrest warrant for him.