Manager of Swiss bar where 40 died in sparkler inferno ‘known for pimping and kidnap cases’
One of the managers of the Swiss ski club tragedy that claimed the lives of 40 people has previously been convicted of kidnapping and pimping, according to reports.
Jacques Moretti is under criminal investigation for manslaughter with his wife Jessica, for the blaze at Le Constellation in the Crans-Montana ski resort on New Year’s Day.
Multiple articles in French media over the weekend have described Mr Moretti as a convicted criminal who previously served time in prison.
Europe 1 is currently reporting that he was ‘convicted and imprisoned in Savoie, France, about twenty years ago for fraud, kidnapping, and false imprisonment.
‘Since then, he has supposedly kept a low profile. Here in Crans-Montana, he owns three businesses – two bars, including Le Constellation, and a restaurant, Le Vieux Chalet, which he completely renovated last year.’
Le Parisien reports: ‘According to our information, Jacques Moretti is no stranger to the French justice system.
‘He is known for pimping cases dating back some twenty years, as well as for a kidnapping and confinement case. He was imprisoned in Savoie.’
Quoting its own legal source, RTL, another national radio network, reported: ‘The Corsican-born man in his sixties was imprisoned in Savoie in 2005, for involvement in cases of pimping, fraud, kidnapping, and false imprisonment.’
There was no initial response to the revelations from lawyers representing Mr Moretti.
Mr Moretti is originally from Ghisonaccia, on the Mediterranean island of Corsica.
His wife was born in Nice, close to Cannes, on the French Riviera.
The Morettis were questioned by Swiss prosecutors on Friday, and both are currently at liberty, as they assist the judicial authorities with their enquiries.
Swiss attorney general Béatrice Pilloud said: ‘Everything suggests that the fire started with incandescent candles placed in champagne bottles, which were brought too close to the ceiling, causing a rapid and widespread conflagration.’
Mr Moretti has claimed his bar ‘followed all safety regulations,’ despite only being inspected only ‘three times in ten years’ by health and safety officials.
Article 8 of the local fire prevention code states that inspections must take place ‘every year in buildings open to the public or presenting special risks.’
Mr Moretti was not in Le Constellation on the night of the fire.
They also face tried for ‘bodily harm and arson by negligence,’ according to Swiss state prosecutors.
A preliminary investigation has attributed the fire to sparklers which were placed inside champagne bottles lighting up the basement ceiling.
Ms Moretti, who suffered a burned arm in the blaze, is the daughter of Jean-Paul Maric, a senior fire chief in Cannes, on the French Riviera, Nice Matin reported on Sunday.
And her uncle is Jean-Pierre Maric, president of the nearby Auribeau-sur-Siagne forest fire-fighting committee.
A family friend of Ms Moretti, whose full name is Jessica Anne Jeanne Maric Moretti, said on Sunday: ‘Her father and other relatives are highly respected fire-fighters in the south of France. Protecting people from fire is part of the family tradition.’
Ms Moretti, who is in her 40s, opened Le Constellation, with her husband, who is in his 60s, in 2015.
In the aftermath of the horror blaze, stories of heroism are emerging. Abanker managed to pull 10 people from the Swiss nightclub fire ‘with his bare hands’ after his daughter rang him pleading for help.
Paolo Campolo raced from his home to Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana on New Year’s Eve and was able to prise open a door.
Some 10 youngsters trapped inside were able to flee from the building through the door, while at least 40 people were killed and a further 119 injured.
The 55-year-old’s daughter had rang him crying, saying her boyfriend and his friends were trapped inside.
The main exit was crammed by people trying to flee, but Mr Campolo, a senior financial analyst, was able to find a door to the side and forced it open.
(Picture: AFP)
He told Italian newspaper Il Messaggero: ‘There were several bodies all around. Alive but burnt. Some conscious, others not.’
‘They were begging for help in several languages. They were very young.’
He worked with another man to pull open the door, and could could see ‘hands and faces’ behind the screen.
As soon as it opened, a number of people immediately spilled out. Many of those inside were teenagers.
Mr Campolo said: ‘I didn’t think about the pain, the smoke, the danger. I pulled kids out with my bare hands. One after the other. They were alive but injured, many of them seriously.’