Criminal investigation opened into two officials over deadly new year Swiss fire | Crans-Montana fire
Prosecutors investigating the deadly New Year’s Eve bar fire that killed 40 people in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana have launched a criminal investigation into a current and former local council official, according to filings and documents. local media reports.
Their lawyer, Nicolas Rivard, confirmed Thursday that the city’s head of public safety will be summoned for a hearing next Friday this week, adding that his client would reserve any testimony to prosecutors.
A former council fire safety officer is also expected to be questioned by investigators in the southwestern canton of Valais on February 9. Their lawyer, David Aioutz, said his client would be present at the state attorney’s office at that time.
The name of the official and the former official was not given.
Documents from the prosecutor’s office seen by Reuters describe both men as “defendants” in the case and say past and present city hall officials could be held responsible for security failures at Le Constellation bar.
The bar’s French owners, Jacques and Jessica Moretti, were facing charges of negligent manslaughter, negligent bodily harm and negligent arson, and were so far the only suspects under criminal investigation into the tragedy.
116 people, mostly young people, were injured in the New Year’s inferno. The dead include 21 Swiss citizens, 9 French citizens, 6 Italians and one person from Belgium, Portugal, Romania and Türkiye; The average age was 19.
Authorities believe the fire started in the crowded bar’s basement party room when sparklers attached to champagne bottles were held too close to the ceiling, which was covered with sound-proof foam.
Questions were raised about the presence and accessibility of fire extinguishers in the basement and whether exits, including the single staircase up to the bar that was reportedly narrow, were compliant with regulations.
Jacques Moretti was held in protective custody for nearly two weeks before being released on SFr200,000 (£189,000) bail on January 23. The documents stated that the couple would be questioned separately again on February 11 and 12.
There was outrage earlier this month when the town’s mayor, Nicolas Féraud, admitted that municipal security guards had not carried out the mandatory annual security check of Le Constellation since 2019.
The investigation aims to shed light on the precise circumstances of the fire and the extent to which health and safety regulations were complied with, and to determine the potential criminal liability of property owners, staff and officials.
City and prosecutor’s office officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Prosecutors rejected the council’s request to become a party to the case, which would have given it the same status as the victims.
“There are … reasons to believe that the municipality is not fulfilling its duty to enforce the various regulations for which it is responsible [and that are] The bar aims to protect the lives and physical integrity of its patrons, a document said. “The failures are attributable to staff and council members, both past and present.”
The Moretti family expressed their “indescribable pain” and pledged to fully cooperate with the investigation.
Alexandre Edelmann of Presence Switzerland, which promotes the country’s image abroad, said the fire was one of the worst disasters in modern Swiss history and the biggest blow to its reputation since the collapse of Credit Suisse bank in 2023.
