Prosecutors investigating the deadly New Year bar inferno in Crans-Montana have opened a criminal investigation against a former security official in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana.
Public broadcaster RTS reported that the man, who has not been named, had been responsible for fire safety checks at Le Constellation bar where 40 people died in the early hours of January 1st.
The ex-official will be questioned on February 9th, but RTS did not specify the charges faced.
The man would be the third person charged in the case, after the bar’s owners, French couple Jacques and Jessica Moretti.
The move would mean the investigation is extending its focus beyond the owners to the actions of the Crans-Montana municipality.
Local authorities triggered outrage on January 6th when they revealed that no annual safety check had been carried out at the bar since 2019.
Public prosecutors believe the fire started when revellers raised champagne bottles with sparklers attached too close to sound insulation foam on the bar basement ceiling.
Besides those killed — who were mostly teenagers — 116 others were injured.
The Morettis are under criminal investigation, facing charges of manslaughter by negligence, bodily harm by negligence and arson by negligence.
Jacques Moretti was detained in custody on January 9th but allowed to leave on bail of 200,000 francs on January 23rd.
In Switzerland, the presumption of innocence applies until a final conviction is pronounced.
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Rome demands joint probe
Six Italians, all aged 15 and 16, were killed in the disaster and several Italian nationals were among the wounded.
On Saturday, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni voiced her “strong indignation” over Jacques Moretti being bailed, and Rome’s ambassador to Switzerland was recalled in protest.
And on Monday, Italy demanded effective judicial cooperation and the establishment of a joint investigation team. Italy’s ambassador will not return to Bern until this condition is met.
The Swiss government discussed Rome’s criticisms at its regular Wednesday meeting.
The government “understands the shock this disaster has also caused in Italy,” spokesperson Nicole Lamon told reporters afterwards.
“It shares the call for a thorough and professional investigation into the causes of and responsibility for the accident.”
She said Switzerland received an Italian request for mutual judicial cooperation on January 13th and forwarded it the following day to the Valais public prosecutor’s office, which intends to decide on the request “by the end of this week”.
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Italy skiers pay tribute
Sunday marks one month since the disaster and also sees Crans-Montana welcome the final Swiss round of the 2025-2026 Alpine Ski World Cup.
Several tributes and acts of remembrance are planned over the weekend, while thousands of racegoers are expected in the resort.
The women’s downhill race will be held on Friday and the super giant slalom on Saturday, with the men’s downhill on Sunday.
A delegation from the Italian women’s Alpine skiing team gathered on Wednesday in front of Le Constellation, laying a bouquet of flowers on the frosty wooden steps at the entrance, before observing a minute of silence.
The bar’s veranda has been boarded up, while the sign bearing the name has been taken down.
Sofia Goggia, Italy’s downhill gold medallist from the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, was among those paying tribute.
