Freedom could cost Jacques and Jessica Moretti 400,000 Swiss francs, approximately 430,000 euros. This is the amount of bail requested by the Sion Public Prosecutor's Office for the owners of the Constellation hotel in Crans-Montana , who are under investigation for homicide, assault, and arson following the New Year's Eve fire that killed 40 people and injured 116.
While waiting for the Guarantee Court to rule, also defining which precautionary measures to apply, such as an electronic bracelet, the man remains in prison, while his wife is subject to the obligation to sign and a ban on leaving the country, having also had to surrender her passport .
Switzerland is also working to develop a package of economic assistance for the victims' families, including emergency measures, assistance with medical expenses, and later more substantial compensation. Various initiatives, many already regulated by a federal law on assistance to crime victims, will provide payments that, in some cases, would exceed two hundred thousand francs. This obviously excludes the insurance issue, which will need to be resolved in light of the judicial outcome.
Meanwhile, in Italy, the Rome prosecutor's office is continuing its investigation into multiple manslaughter, negligent assault, and arson. Under its mandate, the Milan prosecutor's office today sent the lawyers representing the families of Chiara Costanzo and Achille Barosi a notice scheduling an autopsy to determine the cause of death. Furthermore, Antonio Bana and Stefano Cassamagnaghi, lawyers representing Achille's parents, are filing a civil action in the Swiss investigation.
Ambassador Gian Lorenzo Cornado met today in Sion with Stéphane Ganzer, State Councilor for Security of the Canton of Valais, the equivalent of the Interior Minister, receiving "assurances that the investigation will be conducted rigorously and independently." According to the diplomat, "the leadership of the Canton of Valais is cooperating fully with the Italian authorities and is fully committed: they too expect answers because this tragedy also involves victims from Valais."
