Valais Expands Crans-Montana Fire Probe to Include Commune President and Four Officials

Overview

• The Valais public prosecutor placed five current and former Crans-Montana officials under criminal instruction, raising the total number of people targeted to nine.
• The case centers on alleged negligent arson, negligent homicide and serious bodily injury by negligence, which already covered the bar’s French owners and past and present security chiefs.
• Those newly implicated, along with owner Jacques Moretti, are due to be heard by the public prosecutor between April 7 and 15, according to sources close to the case.
• February searches at the Morettis’ home seized a receipt tracing the acoustic foam to a German supplier, as well as several luxury watches and a Glock handgun.
• Investigators attribute the blaze to sparks from “fountain” candles igniting acoustic foam in the basement, a fire that killed 41 people and injured 115, with dozens still hospitalized as of late February.