One of the owners of a Swiss bar where a devastating fire killed 40 people on New Year’s Eve has been taken into custody, according to Swiss prosecutors.
Jacques Moretti, a French national and co-owner of Le Constellation bar in the ski resort of Crans-Montana, was detained after authorities determined he posed a potential flight risk. He and his wife, Jessica Moretti, who jointly own the venue, are suspected of manslaughter by negligence, causing bodily harm by negligence, and arson by negligence.
The fire, which broke out during New Year celebrations, injured 116 people, many of them teenagers and young adults. Investigators believe the blaze began when partygoers lifted champagne bottles fitted with sparklers too close to the ceiling, igniting soundproofing foam in the basement bar.
It was revealed earlier this week that Le Constellation had not undergone mandatory safety inspections for five years, despite regulations requiring annual checks.
The decision to hold Jacques Moretti in custody followed questioning of both owners by prosecutors on Friday in Sion, the capital of the canton of Valais. Under Swiss law, individuals under investigation can be detained until a court reviews the case within 48 hours.
Both owners had previously been placed under criminal investigation.
Speaking to reporters on Friday as she walked through Sion surrounded by police, Jessica Moretti expressed remorse for the tragedy. “My thoughts are constantly with the victims and with those who are still fighting today,” she said. “This is an unimaginable tragedy. We never could have foreseen this. It happened in our bar, and I want to say that I am sorry.”
Earlier, the couple said they were “devastated” by the events and promised their full cooperation with investigators.
Prosecutors reiterated that they believe the fire was triggered when celebratory sparklers attached to champagne bottles set fire to acoustic insulation on the ceiling of the bar.
On Friday, Switzerland observed a national day of mourning for the victims. A minute’s silence was held across the country, followed by five minutes of church bells ringing nationwide. Public transport, including trains and trams, briefly stopped, and operations at Zurich airport were temporarily paused.
At a local memorial service in Crans-Montana, firefighters received a standing ovation in recognition of their efforts during the emergency.
The discovery that the bar had gone uninspected for years has caused outrage among victims’ families. Lawyer Romain Jordan, who represents several families, said the “astonishing number of failures and shortcomings” raised serious questions about whether local authorities should also be urgently investigated.
Venues such as Le Constellation should have been inspected every year. Crans-Montana Mayor Nicolas Feraud said earlier this week that he could not explain why the bar had not been checked for such a long period.
“We regret this deeply,” he said. “We owe answers to the families, and we will take responsibility.” He added that sparklers would be banned in local venues going forward.
Most of those who died in the fire were young people, including eight victims under the age of 16. Many of the injured sustained severe burns and are receiving treatment in hospitals across Switzerland and other European countries.
Funeral services for some of the victims have already begun to take place.
