Criminal investigation opened into two officials over deadly new year Swiss fire

Prosecutors investigating the deadly new year bar fire that killed 40 people in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana have opened a criminal investigation into a current and a former local council official, according to documents and local media reports.The municipality’s head of public safety was this week summoned to a hearing next Friday, their lawyer, Nicolas Rivard, confirmed on Thursday, adding that his client would be reserving any statement for the public prosecutors.A former council fire safety officer is also due to be questioned by investigators in the south-western canton of Valais on 9 February. Their lawyer, David Aïoutz, said his client would be present at the state prosecutor’s office then.The official and former official have not been named.Documents from the prosecutor’s office seen by Reuters describe both individuals as “defendants” in the case and indicated that past and present town hall officials could be held responsible for safety failings at Le Constellation bar.The bar’s French owners, Jacques and Jessica Moretti, who face formal charges of negligent manslaughter, negligent bodily harm and negligent arson, were until now the only suspects under criminal investigation in the tragedy.The fire also injured 116 people, most of them teenagers. The dead include 21 Swiss nationals, nine French citizens, six Italians, and citizens of Belgium, Portugal, Romania and Turkey; the average age was 19.Authorities believe the blaze started in the basement party room of the crowded bar after sparklers attached to champagne bottles were held too close to the ceiling, which was clad with soundproofing foam that caught fire.Questions have been raised about the presence and accessibility of fire extinguishers in the basement, and whether the exits – including a reportedly narrow single staircase up to the bar – complied with regulations.Jacques Moretti was held in preventive custody for nearly two weeks before being released on bail of SFr200,000 (£189,000) on 23 January. The couple were due to be questioned again separately on 11 and 12 February, the documents said.There was outrage earlier this month when the town’s mayor, Nicolas Féraud, admitted council safety officers had not carried out the obligatory annual safety check of Le Constellation since 2019.The investigation aims to shed light on the exact circumstances of the fire and the extent to which health and safety regulations had been observed, and to establish potential criminal responsibility on the part of the owners, staff and authorities.Officials for the municipality and the prosecutors’ office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.Prosecutors rejected the council’s request to become a party to the case, which would have given it the same status as the victims.“There are … reasons to believe that the municipality failed in its duty to enforce the various regulations for which it was responsible [and that are] intended to safeguard the lives and physical integrity of the bar’s customers,” one document said. “Failings could be attributable both to staff members and to members of the town council, past and present.”The Morettis have expressed their “indescribable grief” and promised to cooperate fully with the investigation.The fire was one of the worst disasters in modern Swiss history and the biggest blow to its reputation since the 2023 collapse of Credit Suisse bank, said Alexandre Edelmann of Presence Switzerland, which promotes the country’s image abroad.