Headlines
Switzerland Adds Four Defendants to Ski Bar Fire Case
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on April 16, 2026
1 min readLast updated: April 16, 2026
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Swiss prosecutors in Valais have added four more defendants—including current and former local officials—to the investigation of the fatal New Year’s fire at Le Constellation that killed 41. The total number of defendants now stands at 13, all facing up to 4½ years in prison if convicted.
Swiss Prosecutors Add Four Defendants to Ski Bar Fire Case, Total Now 13
Expansion of the Ski Bar Fire Investigation
GENEVA, April 16 (Reuters) - Switzerland has widened its probe into a fatal fire at a ski bar that killed 41 people on New Year's Day, adding four more defendants, prosecutors said on Thursday.
Details of the Investigation
"I can confirm that the investigation has been extended to four additional people," the Valais prosecutor's office said in a statement sent to Reuters, without naming them.
Initial Focus on Bar Owners
Prosecutors' inquiries initially focused on the French owners of "Le Constellation" bar, who are under investigation for crimes including suspected negligent homicide. The couple, Jacques and Jessica Moretti, have both voiced grief over the fire.
Expansion to Local Officials
The probe has since been expanded to include current and former local officials. There are now a total of 13 defendants, the prosecutors confirmed. If convicted, they could face a maximum penalty of 4-1/2 years in prison.
Potential Legal Consequences
Reporting Credits
(Reporting by Emma Farge, Editing by Linda Pasquini)
Key Takeaways
- •The probe into the Le Constellation ski‑bar inferno in Crans‑Montana has expanded to include four additional people, bringing the total defendants to 13, among them current and former municipal officials such as the mayor (yahoo.com).
- •Initial charges focused on bar owners Jacques and Jessica Moretti for suspected negligent homicide and related crimes; now local safety lapses and missing fire inspections since 2019 are also under scrutiny (apnews.com).
- •If convicted, all defendants—including the newly added officials—face a maximum sentence of 4½ years in prison (yahoo.com).
References
Frequently Asked Questions about Switzerland adds four defendants to ski bar fire case
1How many people are now defendants in the Switzerland ski bar fire case?
There are now a total of 13 defendants involved in the investigation.
2What charges are the defendants facing in the ski bar fire case?
The defendants are being investigated for crimes including suspected negligent homicide.
3Who were the initial suspects in the Le Constellation bar fire probe?
The initial focus was on the French owners of the Le Constellation bar, Jacques and Jessica Moretti.
4What is the maximum penalty for those convicted in this case?
If convicted, the defendants could face a maximum penalty of 4-1/2 years in prison.
5Has the investigation expanded beyond the bar owners?
Yes, the probe now includes current and former local officials in addition to the bar owners.
