Swiss prosecutors seek pre-trial detention of bar owner as Switzerland mourns New Year’s fire victims

Al Jazeera
Al Jazeera
2h ago
Swiss prosecutors requested pre-trial detention for Jacques Moretti, a co-owner of La Constellation bar in Crans-Montana where a New Year’s Eve fire killed 40 people and injured dozens.
Swiss prosecutors seek pre-trial detention of bar owner as Switzerland mourns New Year’s fire victims
A What happened
Swiss prosecutors requested that Jacques Moretti, a co-owner of La Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, be placed in pre-trial detention to avoid a risk of flight. His wife and co-manager, Jessica Moretti, was to remain free under judicial supervision. Switzerland held a national day of mourning and an official ceremony in Martigny attended by about 1,000 people, including Emmanuel Macron, Sergio Mattarella, and Bart De Wever. Prosecutors said they believe sparklers on champagne bottles were raised too close to sound insulation foam on the basement ceiling, and local authorities said the bar had not undergone a safety inspection since 2019.
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Key insights

  • 1

    Prosecutors cited flight risk as the basis for seeking detention: Valais chief prosecutor Beatrice Pilloud said pre-trial detention for Jacques Moretti was needed to avoid a risk of flight.

  • 2

    Swiss president linked recovery to accountability through the justice system: Swiss President Guy Parmelin said hope depended on the justice system bringing failures to light and imposing consequences without delay or leniency.

  • 3

    Investigators focused on a suspected ignition source and safety oversight: Prosecutors said sparklers on champagne bottles may have ignited ceiling insulation foam, and local authorities said the bar had not been safety-inspected since 2019.

Takeaways

Swiss authorities pursued criminal accountability for the Crans-Montana bar fire as the country held national mourning and investigators examined suspected causes and safety lapses.

Topics

Investigations Law & Public Safety Crime & Justice Accidents & Fires

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