The proprietor of the Swiss bar where a fatal inferno erupted on New Year’s Eve has been apprehended and identified as a potential flight risk by law enforcement. Together with his spouse, Jessica, Jacques Moretti, aged 49, is now implicated in a criminal investigation for manslaughter subsequent to a tragic incident at the upscale Crans-Montana ski resort in Switzerland on New Year’s Day. As partygoers welcomed the arrival of 2026, a catastrophic fire ignited, reportedly triggered by sparklers inserted into champagne bottles.
Regrettably, approximately 40 individuals perished as the fire engulfed the bar, with 119 people sustaining severe burns. The Morettis are currently under scrutiny for criminal charges of manslaughter due to negligence, bodily harm due to negligence, and negligent arson.
The manager of the ill-fated Le Constellation bar is purported to have a history of criminal convictions. Allegedly, he was formerly convicted of soliciting in Annecy, southern France, in 2008, and Mr. Moretti had previously served a prison term in southeastern France in relation to the ‘Hot Rabbit’ sex worker case. Sébastien Fanti, legal representative for the fire victims still hospitalized, described Mr. Moretti as a dubious individual with questionable practices.
Reportedly, Mr. Moretti was involved in a case where he recruited young French women for a Geneva-based massage parlor, ‘Hot Rabbit Rendezvous’. The establishment was apparently raided by Swiss authorities in 2008, following a tip-off from French counterparts. He was accused of aggravated soliciting, allegedly arranging accommodation for the women, setting their rates, and managing their client interactions. Despite denying the charges initially, he admitted to overseeing the massage parlor for a brief period under a Swiss pimp’s alias, which was legal under Swiss regulations. However, he was sentenced to prison in France for incitement of prostitution.
The couple, originally from Corsica, reportedly relocated to Switzerland due to Jacques’ troubled legal past. They established their bar in 2015, described as an elegant venue with a festive ambiance on the Crans-Montana website. The bar was known for admitting patrons aged 16 and above, unlike other establishments in the ski resort that required guests to be 18.
Jacques and Jessica renovated the bar themselves, transforming it into a glamorous nightclub. The couple’s extensive property investments and lavish lifestyle have raised questions about their financial means. Prosecutors suspect that the fire originated in the bar’s basement due to champagne bottles with sparklers igniting sound insulation foam on the ceiling, potentially leading to a rapid blaze.
The investigation will examine the responsibilities of the bar owners and the oversight authorities, who had not conducted fire safety inspections at the bar since 2019. The couple reportedly own other establishments, including a burger bar opened in 2020 and a Corsican-themed restaurant inaugurated in 2023.
Despite denying any culpability, Jessica is required to report to the police regularly and wear an electronic monitoring device. Mr. Moretti expressed distress over the tragedy, asserting compliance with regulations and pledging full cooperation with the investigation. Authorities are actively investigating the circumstances surrounding the fire’s outbreak and its aftermath.