Swiss bar empire raided as New Year inferno probe widens to seize owners' wealth
Fraud squad investigators have raided the 'property empire' of the multi-millionaire couple who own the Swiss bar in which 40 people burned to death while celebrating the New Year. Officers confiscated 'documents, computers, and other crucial evidence' as Jacques and Jessica Moretti were questioned by prosecutors about the blaze which engulfed Le Constellation in the Alpine ski resort of Crans Montana. Mr Moretti, 49 and an ex-pimp who has been imprisoned in the past, was taken into custody on Friday, while his 40-year-old swimwear model wife was forced to wear an electronic tag and ordered not to leave Switzerland. The couple await possible trial on a range of alleged offences including 'manslaughter by negligence', 'causing bodily harm by negligence', and 'arson by negligence'. An investigating source told the Mail on Sunday: 'Coordinated raids by police saw buildings in their property empire forced open and searched on Friday. 'Documents, computers, and other crucial evidence were seized, while the businesses remain closed down.'
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Corsican-born owners and wealth under scrutiny: the Moretti empire beyond Le Constellation
The Morettis, both French nationals who are originally from the Mediterranean island of Corsica, deny any civil or criminal offences regarding the New Year's fire. They are the owners of two business beyond Le Constellation, which was purchased in cash in 2022. Le Senso is a Corsican-themed restaurant in the centre of Crans-Montana, while Le Vieux Chalet is one in nearby Lens, where the couple own a villa. Pictured: The moment sparklers on Champagne bottles started the deadly fire on New Year's Day
Le Constellation fire described as deathtrap as sparklers trigger blaze
Le Constellation was branded a 'deathtrap' by investigators after partygoers were overcome by flames and toxic smoke in the basement when the ceiling was torched by sparklers attached to champagne bottles. The pyrotechnics had been held up by a waitress sitting on the shoulders of a waiter as people around them shouted and cheered. Experts believe the sparklers ignited highly inflammable acoustic foam which caused a so-called 'flashover' fire – a simultaneous explosion of everything in an enclosed space. The two bar owners will appear before a court again within the next 48 hours, said a Swiss legal source in Sion, the capital of the Valais canton, in which Crans-Montana is situated. 'Ttheir custody conditions will be reviewed, and this includes the possibility of Jessica Moretti being placed in a cell.'
Custody updates and the Morettis’ public statement
A statement released by the Morettis read: 'Please be assured of our full cooperation [with investigators] and that we will not attempt to evade any of these matters.'
Casualties and national response: 40 dead, many under 18, Parmelin’s tribute
Half of those killed in the fire were under 18, including one French boy of 14. Swiss President Guy Parmelin described the fire disaster as 'one of the worst tragedies that our country has experienced' at a memorial service on Friday.
