The criminal investigation into the Crans-Montana fire disaster that occurred on January 1 is ongoing, with public prosecutors focusing on Jacques and Jessica Moretti, the French couple who owned and ran the bar, Le Constellation. The couple faces charges of manslaughter by negligence, bodily harm by negligence, and arson by negligence. The investigation has uncovered some shortcomings, including non-compliance with fire safety standards and issues with emergency exits and safety equipment.
The Morettis' past has come under scrutiny, with Jacques Moretti having a criminal record in France, including a 2008 conviction for pimping and implications in seven other cases. A report by Switzerland's Federal Office of Police revealed suspicions of money laundering involving the couple, who own three establishments in Wallis. Investigators have referred to "an alleged criminal financial scheme" based on loans they said were likely obtained in an "improper manner".
The investigation has expanded to include 15 other defendants, including eight current or former municipal officials and seven current or former municipal employees. All 17 face charges of manslaughter by negligence, bodily harm by negligence, and arson by negligence. Crans-Montana mayor Nicolas Feraud is among those charged. The probe is seeking to determine whether local politicians and officials knew of shortcomings in fire safety inspections and whether there were sufficient resources to carry out proper inspections.
Following the tragedy, Crans-Montana officials admitted that no fire or safety inspections had been conducted at the bar since 2019. Investigators are probing the renovations carried out in the bar's basement in 2015, operating licences, and safety measures in place. They are focusing on emergency exits, some of which were allegedly locked, and the sound-insulation foam that lined the basement ceiling, which prosecutors say ignited quickly.
The families of the victims hope that the Morettis will "acknowledge their wrongdoing". The investigation has faced criticism, particularly over the failure to take the Morettis into custody straight away and the lack of measures to prevent collusion between suspects. In April, a request to appoint special prosecutors from outside the canton was rejected, as was a request to recuse the prosecutors assigned to the case.
Since then, one of the three prosecutors has stepped down, and the tension seems to have eased. However, it remains to be seen whether the mistakes at the start of the investigation will have repercussions for the remainder of the proceedings. The investigation must establish if there were failings in the renovation work, the running of the bar, and the municipal inspections, as well as any individual criminal liabilities.
The investigation is expected to last several years, with many observers believing that it will take a long time to hear from the numerous plaintiffs and potentially go to trial. The case has put local authorities and officials under the spotlight, with lawyers representing several families criticizing the municipality's admission of incompetence and failure to acknowledge responsibility.
Key points
- The investigation into the Crans-Montana fire disaster could last several years.
- Jacques Moretti has a criminal record in France, including a 2008 conviction for pimping.
- The probe has expanded to include 15 other defendants, including municipal officials and employees.
