Judge Orders Freezing of $8.3 Million in Assets Belonging to Jet Set Club Owners
Judge Reymundo Mejía Zorrilla ordered the immobilisation of assets worth 8.3 million dollars as a precautionary measure against the owners of the Jet Set club.
Judge Orders Freezing of $8.3 Million in Assets Belonging to Jet Set Club Owners
The magistrate presiding over the case of the collapse of the Jet Set nightclub issued a precautionary measure freezing assets of the defendants valued at approximately 8.3 million dollars.
The order was issued by Reymundo Mejía Zorrilla, who heads the First Court of Instruction of the National District. The funds will remain blocked whilst proceedings continue against Antonio and Maribel Espaillat, owners of the venue where 236 people died following the collapse of its roof.
The disaster occurred on 8 April 2025, when the structure of the establishment gave way during a concert by merengue artist Rubby Pérez. Among the fatalities are the artist himself and former Major League Baseball player Octavio Dotel.
The court determined that the Espaillat siblings must face charges of involuntary manslaughter, a charge that carries penalties of up to two years in prison. The decision generated discontent among relatives of the deceased, who had expected them to be charged with homicide, a crime punishable by up to twenty years in prison.
In his ruling, the judge argued that there are no grounds to hold that the defendants foresaw their omissions would result in deaths. Had they been able to anticipate the collapse, he reasoned, they would not have put their own lives or those of those present at risk.
Antonio Espaillat is a well-known entertainment entrepreneur who owns multiple radio stations and entertainment venues in the country. The prosecution alleges it has abundant evidence linking him to the collapse of the building.
The accused will be tried jointly. The date for the start of proceedings has not yet been set.
_Source: Telemundo 47_
Source: Google News DO — Crime