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After a fire disaster with dozens of deaths New charges against bar manager in Crans-Montana
The bar “Le Constellation”: The previous entrance is locked. Only one display reminds us of the fire disaster.
picture alliance/KEYSTONE / JEAN-CHRISTOPHE BOTT
Dozens of mostly young people die on New Year's Eve in a bar in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana. Fountains that come into contact with foam on the ceiling will start a fire. Now the invoices for the foam are becoming the focus of investigators.
After the fire disaster in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana that left numerous dead, the public prosecutor's office has brought further charges against the co-owner of the affected bar. Jessica Moretti is now also accused of forging documents, her lawyer announced after hours of questioning of Moretti and her husband in Sitten. Specifically, the accusation of forgery is related to an invoice from 2015, which involved the purchase of foam during the renovation work on the restaurant.
On New Year's Eve, a fire broke out in the basement of the “Le Constellation” bar in Crans-Montana. 41 mostly young people were killed and 115 other people were injured. The fire was caused by fireworks fountains attached to bottles that came too close to the ceiling. This was apparently covered with the foam that is the subject of the invoice now being targeted by the investigators.
Investigations are already underway against Jessica Moretti and her husband Jacques on suspicion of negligent homicide, negligent bodily harm and negligent arson.
picture alliance/KEYSTONE / CYRIL ZINGARO
Jessica Moretti's lawyer rejected the new accusation. The bill had “strictly no connection to the Crans-Montana tragedy,” he said.
Because of the tragedy, the couple Jacques and Jessica Moretti are already being investigated on suspicion of negligent homicide, negligent bodily harm and negligent arson. Investigations are also underway against other people responsible: The municipality has already admitted that there have been no fire safety checks in the bar since 2019, even though these are required every year.
The operating couple had to appear together for the first time during the interrogation on Friday. The public prosecutor announced this as a “confrontation interview”. This means that for the first time the two are asked in each other's presence who had what tasks and what instructions were given. During previous hearings, both often failed to answer, saying that only the other knew, said victims' lawyers who were present at the hearings.
Sources used: chr/AFP
