Jacques Moretti’s partner, Jessica, said the court “correctly assessed the situation.”
The owner of the Swiss bar in Crans-Montana that was engulfed in flames during New Year’s celebrations, causing dozens of deaths, has been placed in three months of preventive detention, according to a source close to the case.
Jacques Moretti was arrested following his testimony before prosecutors, along with his wife Jessica Moretti. The couple are co-owners of the bar Le Constellation, located in the Crans-Montana ski resort. Both were questioned on Friday by prosecutors in the canton of Valais, in southwestern Switzerland.
According to information cited by Agence France-Presse, the cantonal court ordered Jacques Moretti’s pretrial detention for a period of three months as part of the ongoing criminal investigation.
In statements following the court’s decision, Jessica Moretti said that the court had “correctly assessed the situation,” noting that the couple has no intention of evading “normal judicial oversight.”
The fire broke out in the early hours of New Year’s Day, at a time when the bar was packed with people celebrating the arrival of the new year. The toll was devastating, with 40 people killed and 116 injured, most of them teenagers.
Swiss authorities have placed both Jacques and Jessica Moretti under criminal investigation on charges of negligent homicide, negligent bodily harm, and negligent arson. As noted, under Swiss law, the presumption of innocence applies until a final conviction is issued.
Preliminary findings indicate that the fire was caused when fireworks ignited foam soundproofing material installed on the ceiling of the venue’s basement area. Investigators are also examining whether adequate and accessible fire extinguishers were in place and whether the bar’s exits met the required safety standards.
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