Swiss Bar Co-Owner Held in Detention for Three Months Over Deadly NYE Fire
A Swiss court has ordered the co-owner of a bar where 40 people died in a New Year's Day fire to remain in preventive detention for three months. Jacques Moretti, who owns Le Constellation bar with his wife Jessica, was taken into custody after being questioned by prosecutors on Friday.
Moretti and his wife are facing charges of manslaughter by negligence, bodily harm by negligence, and arson by negligence, following the blaze that ravaged the ski resort town of Crans-Montana. The investigation has revealed that a fire broke out early on January 1, when the bar was packed with partygoers.
According to prosecutors, the fire is believed to have been caused by sparklers igniting soundproofing foam installed in the basement. However, questions remain over the presence and accessibility of fire extinguishers, as well as whether the bar's exits were in compliance with regulations.
Moretti claimed that a service door had been locked from the inside, which he discovered after the fire broke out. When he arrived at the scene, he allegedly forced open the door to gain access. The investigation has also raised concerns about the safety measures in place at the bar, particularly given the devastating nature of the tragedy.
While Moretti will be held in detention for three months, this could potentially be reviewed if measures are taken to prevent his flight, such as securing a security deposit. In Switzerland, the presumption of innocence applies until a final conviction is pronounced.
A Swiss court has ordered the co-owner of a bar where 40 people died in a New Year's Day fire to remain in preventive detention for three months. Jacques Moretti, who owns Le Constellation bar with his wife Jessica, was taken into custody after being questioned by prosecutors on Friday.
Moretti and his wife are facing charges of manslaughter by negligence, bodily harm by negligence, and arson by negligence, following the blaze that ravaged the ski resort town of Crans-Montana. The investigation has revealed that a fire broke out early on January 1, when the bar was packed with partygoers.
According to prosecutors, the fire is believed to have been caused by sparklers igniting soundproofing foam installed in the basement. However, questions remain over the presence and accessibility of fire extinguishers, as well as whether the bar's exits were in compliance with regulations.
Moretti claimed that a service door had been locked from the inside, which he discovered after the fire broke out. When he arrived at the scene, he allegedly forced open the door to gain access. The investigation has also raised concerns about the safety measures in place at the bar, particularly given the devastating nature of the tragedy.
While Moretti will be held in detention for three months, this could potentially be reviewed if measures are taken to prevent his flight, such as securing a security deposit. In Switzerland, the presumption of innocence applies until a final conviction is pronounced.
can't believe what's happening in that Swiss bar... 40 people lost their lives and now the co-owner is being held for three months? 
Three months?! It feels like so much time to figure out what went wrong and make things right, you know? 
At least they're investigating, but the lack of fire extinguishers and locked doors is just crazy... like how did this even happen in the first place? 
. When we think about a tragedy like that NYE fire, it's hard not to wonder what could've been done differently 
. It's easy to point fingers and assign blame, but ultimately, it's just one big mess 
. I mean, who needs 40 lives lost when there's partying to be had? 
It just feels like a series of unfortunate events. And now, Jacques Moretti's gotta face the music 
for three long months. I hope he gets some time to reflect on what went down and maybe even learn from it 
.
, that's just awful! A co-owner being held for 3 months over 40 deaths? It's insane 
. I mean, I get it, safety protocols were clearly ignored and people lost their lives... but detention for 3 whole months? That's pretty harsh 
. And what about the bar's owners and staff being held accountable too? Shouldn't they be facing more severe consequences given the magnitude of the tragedy? 
. Three months without bail? That's just crazy! I mean, I get that they're investigating and want to make sure Moretti can't flee, but holding him in detention for so long seems excessive. It's like, he's already got charges pending against him - what more proof do the prosecutors need?
), but three months in detention feels like a pretty heavy-handed response to a tragedy. What if he did try to flee? Wouldn't that just make things worse for the investigation? I guess we'll have to wait and see how this all plays out... 
. And yeah, questions remain about the bar's safety measures and whether they were up to code. It's not like he meant for anyone to get hurt or anything... I guess that's what prosecutors are looking at 
.
. Until then, let's just hope that justice is served and this tragedy can be remembered as a wake-up call for bars like Le Constellation to take safety seriously 
.
. Can we at least have some transparency about the investigation? I'm not saying he's guilty or anything, but come on, people! Let's see what really went down 
It's just so careless and reckless.
It's just too much to take in. And now the co-owner's paying the price.