Men Arrested for Faking Plumbing Qualifications

Dozens of buildings are being reinspected for safety after two plumbers were arrested yesterday of faking their qualifications to install fire sprinkler systems. The two men, Sergei Denko and David Connell, are being charged with offering a false instrument for filing and forgery, and could face jail time if convicted.

"Obviously, fire suppression systems are critical to public safety," the District Attorney, Robert Morgenthau, said in a statement yesterday. "It is extremely important that licenses be granted only to qualified professionals. Individuals who obtain licenses by falsifying their applications are putting lives at risk in the event of a fire."

So far all buildings re-inspected following the arrests have proven to be safe, Building Department officials say.