Crans-Montana Fire Probe Widens: 15th Person Charged as Lombardy Joins as Civil Claimant

Forty-one lives were extinguished in a single night, and the legal net is now tightening around those responsible for the oversight of the Le Constellation bar. The Valais public prosecutor’s office has confirmed a staggering 15th indictment in a case that continues to shake the foundations of Swiss municipal governance. The latest individual to face the heat is a former deputy mayor of Chermignon, a man who sat at the heart of local power during the very years the ill-fated bar changed hands. This isn't just a local tragedy; it is a systemic failure that Swiss authorities are now dissecting with unprecedented clinical precision. Every defendant currently grapples with the heavy weight of negligent homicide, negligent bodily harm, and negligent arson. The message from Sion is clear: no former title or political standing offers a shield against the consequences of this New Year’s Eve catastrophe. As the probe widens, the focus shifts from the flames themselves to the bureaucratic paper trail that allowed a death trap to operate in one of Switzerland’s most prestigious resorts.

Lombardy is no longer a silent mourner; the Italian region has officially stormed the Swiss legal arena as a civil claimant. Citing 'direct and tangible damage,' the regional government in Milan, led by President Attilio Fontana, has appointed Ticino lawyer Paolo Bernasconi to spearhead their pursuit of justice. This move follows a massive expenditure of resources—medical, psychological, and logistical—required to support the 115 injured and the families of the deceased, many of whom were young Italian nationals. The economic and institutional burden on Lombardy has been described as 'substantial,' forcing the region to seek full compensation for the financial losses incurred. By joining the case, Lombardy ensures that the social impact on its citizens is not sidelined in a Swiss courtroom. This cross-border legal intervention highlights the international gravity of the disaster, transforming a Valais criminal trial into a high-stakes diplomatic and financial confrontation. The Italian state had already signaled its intent in April, but Lombardy’s specific entry underscores the localized pain felt in Milan and beyond.

More than a decade of history is being unraveled as investigators zero in on the year 2015. This was the pivotal moment when Jacques and Jessica Moretti took over Le Constellation, and it is the period when the 15th suspect chaired the Fire Safety Committee for the municipality of Chermignon. The prosecution is meticulously examining the 'major works' carried out during this transition, questioning whether safety standards were sacrificed for commercial speed. While the fire occurred years later, the seeds of the disaster were likely sown in these administrative lapses. Jessica Moretti now faces an additional charge of forgery, adding a layer of alleged criminal intent to the existing mountain of negligence. The investigation confronts a culture of complacency that allowed a bar to become a furnace. By tracing the chain of command back to 2013-2016, prosecutors are signaling that safety oversight is a lifelong responsibility for public officials. The upcoming hearings will likely expose how deep the rot of administrative negligence truly went during the bar's renovation phase.

July marks a critical turning point as the Energypolis campus in Sion prepares for a trio of explosive hearings. On July 14, the newly charged former deputy mayor will be forced to answer for his tenure. Just two days later, on July 16, the former mayor of Chermignon, Jean-Claude Savoy, returns to the stand. Previous attempts to question these figures ended in a stalemate, with suspects utilizing their right to remain silent due to lack of file access. That era of silence is ending. Meanwhile, current Crans-Montana Mayor Nicolas Féraud has publicly grappled with the moral fallout, admitting the response 'lacked humanity' and regretting the absence of an early apology. This admission of emotional failure contrasts sharply with the cold, legalistic defense strategies employed by his predecessors. As the security officer’s hearing on July 28 looms, the community demands more than just legal findings; they demand a reckoning with the 'Swiss reputation for safety' that was incinerated on New Year's Eve. The outcome of these hearings will determine if Switzerland can restore faith in its municipal institutions or if the Crans-Montana fire will remain a permanent stain on the nation's conscience.