Jacques Moretti, owner of Le Constellation, was released on bail after being detained on Jan. 9 in connection with a New Year's Day fire that killed 40 people and injured more than 100. Bail was set at CHF200,000 and includes daily reporting to police. Jacques and his wife, Jessica, are under investigation for negligent homicide as prosecutors conduct lengthy hearings, searches and asset seizures. Many survivors remain hospitalized with severe burns while the inquiry continues.
Swiss Bar Owner Jacques Moretti Released On CHF200,000 Bail After Deadly New Year's Blaze
Jacques and Jessica Moretti, the couple who ran the Swiss bar in the ski resort of Crans-Montana which burst into flames during a New Year's Eve party, arrive for questioning at the Public Ministry of the Canton of Valais in Sion in southwestern Switzerland, January 9, 2026. REUTERS/Umit Bektas
Geneva, Jan 23 — The owner of Le Constellation, a Swiss bar consumed by a deadly New Year's Day fire, was released from custody on Friday after a court granted bail, court authorities said.
Release And Bail Conditions
Jacques Moretti was detained on January 9 and has been released on bail under conditions that include a 200,000 Swiss franc (about $253,485) payment and a requirement to report to a police station every day. His wife, Jessica Moretti, is also under investigation. The blaze killed 40 people and injured more than 100; many survivors remain hospitalized with severe burns.
Ongoing Investigation
Prosecutors said they have interviewed the bar owners in two lengthy hearings—each lasting more than 10 hours—about safety shortcomings and renovation work at Le Constellation. Authorities have carried out searches, secured evidence and seized assets as part of the broader probe into the circumstances surrounding the fire.
"Jessica and Jacques Moretti will both continue to comply with all requests from the authorities," the couple's lawyers said in a written statement following the release order. "Their thoughts remain constantly with the victims of this tragedy."
The investigation remains ongoing and prosecutors have not yet concluded their inquiries. Court officials and investigators continue to examine whether safety failures or renovation work contributed to the scale of the disaster.
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