Bankrupt property developer quizzed by police after worker death

Thursday 6th May 2010

A beleaguered property developer has been arrested over an accident that left a Polish construction worker dead, according to the Manchester Evening News.

The accident, which happened three years ago, involved 47 year-old builder, Jan Tobolski, who was hit by a steel beam whilst working on a construction site in Manchester.

32 year-old property developer Bashar Issa, who has since been forced into bankruptcy, was arrested last week upon arrival in the UK on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter.

After the accident, the construction site was closed and the skyscraper that Mr Issa’s firm had been developing was never completed.

In 2008, three of Mr Issa’s companies – BS Construction, BS Developments and Issa Developments – collapsed with debts thought to be around £45 million and he was made bankrupt.

Once a well known name in Manchester property circles, Mr Issa had plans to build “twin tower skyscrapers” in Salford, before his developments were hit by problems in the property market and difficulties in obtaining funding.

After the death of Mr Tobolski, Mr Issa’s firm was issued with 14 prohibition notices, five improvement notices and the construction site was closed.

So far no inquest has been held into the death, although a report by the Centre of Corporate Accountability has stated that the worker died when a metal girder, which he was trying to move with a makeshift pulley, fell on him.

In a statement Greater Manchester Police said: “As part of a joint investigation between GMP and the Health and Safety Executive, a 32-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter.

“He has since been released without charge. A file has been passed to the Crown Prosecution Service. Inquiries are continuing.”