Swiss authorities have arrested the owner of a bar in the ski resort of Crans-Montana following a devastating New Year’s Eve fire that claimed the lives of 40 people and left 116 people injured.

Jacques Moretti, manager and co-owner of the bar Le Constellation, was remanded into custody after a hearing at the public prosecutor’s office. The decision marks a significant development in the investigation into one of the deadliest recent incidents in the Valais canton.

Moretti, who co-owned the venue with his wife, Jessica Moretti, did not respond to questions from reporters following the hearing. In previous statements, the couple expressed their grief over the tragedy and said they would fully cooperate with the authorities.

Jacques and Jessica Moretti, the couple who ran the Swiss bar in the ski resort of Crans-Montana which burst into flames during a New Year’s Eve party, arrive for questioning at the Public Ministry of the Canton of Valais in Sion in southwestern Switzerland, January 9, 2026. REUTERS/Umit Bektas

According to 24 heures, the French-language Swiss daily, the Public Prosecutor’s Office requested Moretti’s detention citing a potential risk of flight. The decision must be confirmed within 48 hours by the Valais Court of Compulsory Measures.

Prosecutors are investigating the French owners of the club for serious offenses, including involuntary manslaughter. At the same time, families of the victims have filed criminal complaints related to the fire at the Crans-Montana bar.

Moretti’s arrest represents a reversal in the handling of the case, as Valais prosecutors had until recently declined to order the detention of the 49-year-old Corsican national. However the prosecutor determined that his nationality and his history of frequent travel over many years justified his remand in custody as the investigation continues.