Crans Montana fire: A victims' lawyer calls for an investigation into the city's finances

Maître Sébastien Fanti, a lawyer for the victims of Crans Montana, this terrible fire which caused the death of 41 people and 115 injured, is demanding accountability from the city. In his complaint addressed to the Council of State of the canton of Valais in Switzerland, on October 19, he calls into question “the capacity of the municipality to face the financial consequences of the fire” as well as “the way in which it prevents and manages this risk”.

He requests the opening of an official investigation into the financial situation of Crans Montana and the placing “under partial management” of the municipality concerning in particular its accounts and its financial planning in connection with the tragedy. The information, delivered by Matin Dimanche and SonntagsZeitung, was confirmed by AFP by the council itself.

Prosecutions initiated against 17 people

Still in office, the president of Crans Montana, Nicolas Féraud, is one of the 17 people placed under criminal investigation by the Valais prosecutor's office. He is being prosecuted, like the 16 other people, for “negligent homicide, negligent bodily harm and negligent arson”, following the tragedy that occurred on New Year's Eve in the Swiss ski resort.

Among the other people placed under criminal investigation are elected or former municipal officials, employees or former employees of municipal services, as well as the French owners and managers of the Constellation, Jacques and Jessica Moretti.

The fire in this bar, which occurred in the middle of New Year's Eve celebrations, mainly struck teenagers and young adults, including many foreigners, particularly Italians and French people.

The first elements of the investigation showed that the fire was started by sparks from “fountain” candles which ignited sound-absorbing foam on the ceiling of the basement of the bar.

Ten months after this tragic fire, Jacques Moretti must be interviewed again on Monday by prosecutors.