Archie Poole, who was arrested on Monday, several days after police announced he was wanted for questioning in relation to the Ministry of Health fire, will remain in custody as long as police need him to be.

This was indicated to Stabroek News by Crime Chief Seelal Persaud yesterday afternoon. Persaud had said that Poole was wanted for questioning in relation to the Ministry of Health fire early on the morning of July 17.

Poole, his attorney Leslie Sobers had reported, was arrested by law enforcement officials at his business place on the Linden/Soesdyke Highway. Police said last Thursday that they were seeking Poole and Heston Bostwick to assist in an investigation. Bostwick had turned himself in and after being detained for three days, was later released on $10,000 station bail.

Contacted yesterday Sobers said that Poole remained in custody at the Brickdam Police Station and he hadn’t visited him yet for the day. The attorney added that he is optimistic that police will release his client before the 72 hours allowed by the constitution elapses. The man remained in custody up to press time last night.

Besides being nauseated by the “stench” from the lock-ups, Sobers said, his client is otherwise well.

The state of the Brickdam lock-ups, according to the attorney, is not fit for human beings. There is no “proper flow of oxygen” and “the stench of ammonia is high”.