Pang Admits Involvement

Martin Pang has confessed to his involvement in the arson fire that destroyed his parents’ food-products business and killed four firefighters, KING-TV reported Monday night.

A law-enforcement source in Seattle said Pang confessed to authorities while jailed in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where he was arrested Thursday, KING reported.

The report said Pang was questioned about the Jan. 5 fire by two FBI agents who visited him at the federal police headquarters in Rio. It’s not known what level of involvement Pang confessed to, KING said.

Pang’s attorney in Seattle, Allen Ressler, would neither confirm nor deny the report.

“I won’t deny it and I talked with Martin today,” Ressler told KING.

He could not be reached for further comment Monday night.

Detective Al Lima of the Seattle Police Department said he was unaware of any confession.

Meanwhile, Pang received a 30-minute visit Monday from an American consulate representative who declined to give her name or reveal what was discussed.

Rio Interpol Chief Vitor Vasconcellos said Monday that as yet, Pang had no Brazilian lawyer to represent him. The consulate official apparently met with Pang to check to see if he was all right.

Pang was arrested in Rio on Thursday night. He fled the United States in February.

Officials said Pang, 39, is in a jail cell with a Dutchman and a German. They said he had made no phone calls, nor had he received any, although he has had access to a telephone.

Efforts are under way to return Pang for trial in Seattle, where he faces first-degree murder charges in the Jan. 5 fire at Mary Pang Food Products Inc.

He is accused of planning and arranging the fire. Investigators don’t know who set the blaze.

Last week, Ressler told reporters he might leave for Rio de Janeiro to meet with Pang but first wanted to hire a Brazilian lawyer to investigate extradition and related issues.