Two face fire safety charges after West Bromwich's Metro Court evacuated
Two company directors have appeared in court accused of breaking fire safety regulations at a West Bromwich block of flats.
Daniel Orasanu, aged 42, and Carmen Lupu, aged 27, face 29 charges against the Regulatory Reform Fire Safety Order, including breaching a prohibition notice, following the evacuation of four-storey former office block Metro Court in the High Street.
The pair, of Smestow Bridge Industrial Estate, Wombourne, were sent to Wolverhampton Crown Court by the city’s magistrates for a plea and case management hearing on September 14.
Their company, First Job, of the same address, faces the same allegations, which were described by Mr Mark Jackson, prosecuting on behalf of West Midlands Fire Authority, as specimen charges.
These include absence of fire doors and fire doors being wedged open, faulty fire safety equipment and fire alarms being switched off.
Orasanu and Lupu were granted bail on the conditions that they reside at Smestow Bridge and surrender their passports and all other travel documents to the court.
In July, Sandwell Council helped to re-home many of the 90 residents who had been paying £500 a month to live at Metro Court.
