Italy recalls envoy after Swiss bar fire suspect freed

Italy’s government has officially protested the release on bail of a Swiss bar owner who suffered a deadly fire on New Year’s Day and recalled its ambassador to Switzerland as the court’s decision faced criticism in both countries.

Jacques Moretti, owner of Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, and his wife Jessica are under investigation for negligent homicide and other crimes linked to the fire that killed 40 people, mostly teenagers, and injured more than 100 others.

Jacques Moretti was detained on January 9 but was released on bail on Friday.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called Moretti’s release “an insult to the memory of the victims… and an insult to their families.”

6 of those who died in the bar fire were Italian, and 10 of the injured were Italian.

The government said in a statement on Saturday that Meloni and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani instructed Italy’s ambassador to immediately contact Beatrice Pilloud, chief prosecutor of the Swiss canton of Valais, to convey Italy’s “strong indignation” over Moretti’s release.

He added that the court made this decision despite the seriousness of the alleged crime, the risk of flight and the possibility of endangering the evidence.

“The whole of Italy cries out for truth and justice and calls for respectful measures that take full account of the suffering and expectations of the families in the wake of this disaster,” the statement said. The statement was included.

Meloni and Tajani also instructed ambassador Gian Lorenzo Cornado to return to Rome to determine what steps should be taken.

Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis, from the Italian-speaking canton of Ticino, said he met with Tajani and the neighbors reaffirmed mutual support following the tragedy.

A spokesman for the Swiss foreign ministry said they were not aware of the decision to recall the Italian ambassador, but said such a move was part of normal diplomatic practice and would not be permanent.

Swiss prosecutor Pilloud confirmed to Swiss news agency Keystone SDA that the Italian ambassador had contacted him, but announced that a separate court had ordered Moretti’s release.

“I do not want to be responsible for a diplomatic incident between the two countries. I will not bow to any pressure from the Italian authorities, so I advised the ambassador to contact the Swiss political authorities,” he said.

Moretti was released under a bail agreement that included a payment of 200,000 Swiss francs ($373,500) and an order to report to the police station every day.

Lawyers for fire victims and their families said that they had difficulty understanding the court decision and that their clients were worried about the loss of evidence.

Andrea Costanzo, who lost her 16-year-old daughter Chiara in the fire, said in her comments published in Italian newspapers on Saturday, “This is another slap to a wound that will never heal.”

The Moretti family expressed their sadness over the tragedy and said they would cooperate with prosecutors.

In the statement made after Jacques Moretti’s release, his lawyers said that they “will continue to comply with all requests from the authorities.”