A court in Switzerland has ruled that the co-owner of a bar in the exclusive ski resort of Crans-Montana, where a fire claimed the lives of 40 individuals on New Year’s Day, must stay in custody. The court stated that Jacques Moretti will be detained for a temporary period of three months, subject to review if precautions are taken to prevent the risk of escape, such as providing a security deposit. Prosecutors in the Valais canton initially ordered Moretti’s detention after an extensive hearing involving him and his wife, Jessica, who have expressed sorrow over the tragic incident and pledged full cooperation with the investigation.
According to Jessica Moretti’s legal representatives, the court’s ruling will enable her husband to be released once the specified conditions are satisfied. The lawyers emphasized the couple’s unwavering commitment to facing the forthcoming legal procedures together. Last Friday, Swiss authorities declared a national day of mourning following the devastating fire, with church bells tolling nationwide in remembrance of the victims. The incident resulted in the loss of predominantly teenage lives, with an additional 116 individuals sustaining injuries, many of them severe.