Crans-Montana bar owner Moretti held in custody over domestic violence
Jacques Moretti, owner of the bar destroyed in the New Year's Eve fire disaster, is being held in custody on suspicion of serious assault against his wife.
Moretti back in headlines after fire tragedy – wife admitted to hospital
Jacques Moretti, owner of the bar "Le Constellation" in the Swiss ski resort Crans-Montana, has been arrested on suspicion of violence against his wife Jessica. According to WELT, citing television station Léman Bleu and public broadcaster RTS, he has been held in custody since Sunday.
The incident is said to have occurred during the night of 11 to 12 August. Moretti allegedly assaulted his wife so severely that she had to be admitted to hospital. It is not known whether she has since been discharged from the clinic.
Moretti had already come to prominence following the fire disaster on New Year's Eve. The fire in his bar claimed the lives of 41 mostly young people, with 115 others injured. Sparking party fountains had ignited foam on the ceiling at the time. Investigations have since been opened against the bar owners on suspicion of negligent homicide, negligent bodily harm and negligent arson.
As part of ongoing investigations by the public prosecutor's office, it is to be examined in particular whether the Morettis and municipal officials violated safety regulations. The municipality has already admitted that no fire safety inspections had been carried out at the bar since 2019 – despite these being required annually.
The couple's lawyers stated on Sunday evening that the new allegations concerned "exclusively the private life" of the couple. At the same time, they pointed out that these "are in a context that cannot be ignored: that of a particularly severe ordeal which the two of them have been attempting to face together since 1 January".
Source: WELT