Before the deadly fire that killed dozens of people in Crans-Montana, the main manager of the bar involved was already known to the French courts. Convicted for aggravated pimping and later for social welfare fraud, he is now the subject of a criminal investigation in Switzerland for negligence resulting in death.
The Le Constellation bar, a popular nightlife venue in the Swiss ski resort, was operated by Jacques Moretti, a French national who had been living and working in Switzerland for several years. Long before the New Year’s Eve tragedy, his name appeared in French judicial records.
A manager convicted of aggravated pimping
In 2008, Jacques Moretti was convicted by the criminal court of Annecy for aggravated pimping. The court found that he had recruited several women for prostitution, organised their activity, set prices and directly profited from their sexual exploitation.
The case notably involved a so-called massage parlour in Switzerland, which the court ruled was used as a front for an organised prostitution operation. Judges rejected the argument that Moretti played a purely administrative role, concluding instead that he exercised de facto control over the activity.
He was sentenced to twelve months in prison, including eight months suspended, after having spent time in pre-trial detention.
A separate conviction for social welfare fraud
Beyond the pimping conviction, several French media outlets also report a separate conviction for social welfare fraud. According to these sources, Jacques Moretti unlawfully received social benefits while engaging in undeclared professional activity, leading to a criminal conviction.
These facts are reported as having resulted in a judicial decision and are not presented as mere allegations.
Source: https://www.rtl.fr/actu/justice-faits-divers/proxenetisme-aggrave-qui-est-jacques-moretti-proprietaire-corse-du-bar-de-l-incendie-a-crans-montana-et-connu-de-la-justice-francaise-7900586360
The Crans-Montana fire
On the night of December 31, 2025 to January 1, 2026, a fire broke out inside the Le Constellation bar as hundreds of people gathered to celebrate the New Year. The fire spread extremely quickly, fuelled by flammable decorative elements and ceiling insulation.
The human toll was devastating. Around forty people lost their lives and more than one hundred were injured, some critically. Victims were of multiple nationalities, most of them young adults attending New Year’s celebrations.
Sources:
https://www.reuters.com/world/swiss-prosecutors-summon-owners-ski-resort-bar-after-deadly-blaze-2026-01-09/
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incendie_du_bar_Le_Constellation
A criminal investigation underway
Following the disaster, Swiss authorities opened a criminal investigation targeting the operators of the bar, including Jacques Moretti and his wife, who co-managed the establishment. The investigation focuses on possible negligent homicide, negligent bodily harm and negligent arson.
Investigators are examining whether fire safety regulations were respected, whether the use of certain festive devices was authorised and whether structural or organisational failures contributed to the scale of the tragedy.
Source: https://www.lemonde.fr/international/article/2026/01/03/incendie-de-crans-montana-ouverture-d-une-instruction-penale-contre-les-gerants-francais-du-bar_6660441_3210.html
A judicial past that raises questions
While a manager’s past convictions do not in themselves establish responsibility for a fire, they raise broader questions about oversight, licensing and the scrutiny applied to those running venues open to the public.
The succession of convictions — aggravated pimping, social welfare fraud, and now a criminal investigation for negligence resulting in death — outlines a trajectory that continues to raise concerns well beyond the tragedy itself. At this stage, the presumption of innocence applies in the ongoing Swiss proceedings.