Swiss Restaurant Files for Bankruptcy Amid Fatal Fire Investigation in Valais

The Swiss restaurant establishment Au Vieux Chalet, located in the Valais municipality of Lens and operated by Jessica and Jacques Moretti, has gone bankrupt. The business failure arrives while the couple faces ongoing criminal proceedings conducted by the regional judiciary following a deadly fire in the neighboring district of Crans-Montana.

The Public Prosecutor's Office of the Canton of Valais is investigating both Jessica and Jacques Moretti on counts of negligent homicide, negligent bodily injury, and negligently causing a major fire. Legal proceedings against Jessica Moretti also include charges of document forgery. Judicial authorities carried out another interrogation of the couple a week ago, confirming that the criminal inquiry remains active.

Following the initial disaster, Jacques Moretti spent two weeks in pre-trial detention before being released. He was re-arrested by Swiss law enforcement in mid-August under suspicion of domestic violence directed against his wife, and he has remained incarcerated since that date as prosecutors compile their case.

The overall investigation into the fire extends beyond the couple's immediate business affairs. The Valais prosecution has formally listed 17 individuals as suspects in the proceedings, incorporating both current and former municipal officials from the municipality of Crans-Montana.

These local authorities are being investigated for alleged omissions and failures regarding mandatory safety control procedures. All 17 individuals named in the proceedings face uniform charges of negligent homicide, negligent bodily harm, and negligent arson as the cantonal prosecution works to establish legal responsibility for the event.

Written by Christiane Hofreiter christiane.hofreiter@alpineweekly.com