A Swiss court has ruled that the co-owner of a bar in the exclusive ski resort of Crans-Montana, where a fatal fire claimed the lives of 40 individuals on New Year’s Day, will be kept in custody. Jacques Moretti will be detained for a temporary period of three months, subject to review if precautions are taken to prevent flight risks, such as a security deposit.
The decision to detain Moretti came after Valais canton prosecutors initially ordered his detention following an extensive hearing involving him and his wife, Jessica, who have expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy and pledged full cooperation with the investigation.
In a statement, Jessica Moretti’s legal team welcomed the court’s ruling, stating that once the necessary conditions are met, her husband will be able to regain his freedom. The lawyers emphasized the couple’s unwavering commitment to facing the legal proceedings together without evading them.
Swiss authorities declared last Friday as a national day of mourning, with church bells tolling across the country to pay tribute to the victims of the tragic incident. Of the 40 fatalities, more than half were teenagers, while an additional 116 individuals sustained injuries, many of them severe.