Swiss justice has decreed preventive prison for Jacques Moretti, owner of the Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, where a New Year's Eve fire caused 40 deaths and 116 injuries. Moretti, 49 years old, and his wife Jessica face charges for homicide and negligent arson. The measure is justified by flight risk, as the country pays homage to the victims.
The fire occurred in the early hours of January 1, 2026, in the Crans-Montana ski resort, in the canton of Valais. A flare placed in a bottle in the basement touched the ceiling, covered with a highly flammable anti-noise material, spreading the fire rapidly and trapping dozens of young people. Half of the 40 fatalities were minors, with nine French and six Italian among the dead. Of the 116 injured, 83 remain hospitalized in burn units in Switzerland, Germany, France, and Italy.
Jacques Moretti and his wife Jessica, originally from Corsica, were interrogated for nearly seven hours this Friday in Sion, the capital of Valais. The prosecution considers flight risk for the husband, so he enters provisional prison, while she is released. Lawyers for the victims' families had requested the measure to prevent evidence destruction. Mayor Nicolas Féraud admitted the bar had not passed mandatory annual inspections between 2020 and 2025, and no permits were sought for 2015 renovations, documented on a Facebook page deleted after the disaster. It is still unexplained why the lower floor emergency exit did not work.
Jessica Moretti, present at the venue during the fire, apologized upon leaving the court: «I only think about the victims and the people fighting today to get ahead. It is an unimaginable tragedy. We never would have imagined this. It happened in our place and that's why I want to apologize».
This Friday, Switzerland held a national homage in Martigny, near Crans-Montana, with the presence of French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian President Sergio Mattarella. Guy Parmelin, President of the Swiss Confederation, stated: «Our country is devastated by this tragedy. It bows before the memory of those who are no longer with us and accompanies those about to embark on a long path to recovery». He called for swift justice to clarify deficiencies. At 2:00 p.m., church bells across Switzerland rang in remembrance, and three young survivors closed the event with an emotional message.
