The early morning fire that gutted the temporary home of the King George Hotel was intentionally set, according to investigators.
The 'who dunnit' that follows the investigation by Melville fire chief Tyrone Mogenson, investigators Jim Shaw from Melville and from the provincial Fire Commissioner's Office in Saskatoon, and Melville RCMP Sgt. Ewen Booth, adds another layer to the strange saga of the hotel which saw the original building destroyed by arson in February 2010.
"It was purposely lit, it was arson," Mogenson says.
"It was in the back part of the bar, in the storage room. What determines (a ruling of arson) is the ignition sources and stuff in the area, different burn patterns," Mogenson adds, declining to elaborate whether an accelerant or what, if any, similar incendiary was used. Adding to the mystery was a break-in the previous Saturday in which two city residents forced their way into the King George through a back door and stole liquor and cash.
Twenty-seven-year-old Michael Peepeetch was sentenced to five months in jail after he pleaded guilty to break and enter in Melville Provincial Court last Monday.
Amanda Guiboche, 31, also pleaded guilty to break and enter and has been remanded for three weeks for sentencing.
Prior to the fire, a youtube video made by an unidentified man and was sent to authorities including the Fire Commissioner's Office and the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority, alleging a number of fire code violations ranging from locked exit doors to a leaking urinal.
As well, the Fire Commissioner's Office received other complaints alleging further infractions, charges that King George Hotel owner Sam Pervez says are baseless in fact but are motivated by revenge and personal vendettas.
"Anything he said, that is wrong because he mentioned about the door closed by the VLT. That door, we were (told), by the safety inspector that we can have that door locked but we should have that door locked with a key so in the case of emergency, we can open with a key," Pervez counters.
"We also have three other exits available for emergency. For a certain amount of capacity we need a certain amount of exits. So we met that code and (the fire inspector) he allows us to keep that door closed."
As for other accusations of non-conformance to codes such as non fire rated ceilings, Pervez refutes that charges, maintaining he bought the proper material from a local business. The bucket underneath the urinal was a temporary fix to a problem that can happen at any time in any establishment, Pervez says.
Fire chief Mogenson viewed the video and says the King George complied with fire codes prior to opening.
The video - apparently secretly shot - runs just over 13 minutes and starts from the unidentified man approaching the King George and providing commentary as he enters. Once inside, the camera pans the interior, showing Pervez and several customers as well as the alleged infractions regarding exits, lighting, signs and so on along with the men's washroom. Throughout the filming, the man carries on snippets of conversation with Pervez but also provides a monologue as he tours the establishment.
The Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority (SLGA) issued the permit to open to the King George Hotel March 9, just over a week prior to its March 14 opening, says David Morris, an official in the SLGA's communications branch.
