Crans-Montana bar owner Jessica Moretti barred from leaving Switzerland

Crans-Montana (VS): Jessica Moretti subjected to replacement measures Keystone-SDA

A Swiss court has ruled that Jessica Moretti, co-manager of the Crans-Montana bar where a New Year’s Eve fire killed 40 people, will not be held in custody before the trial. Instead, she will face alternative measures, including a ban on leaving Switzerland.

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The decision by the Valais cantonal court supports a request from the Valais public prosecutor.

+ Crans-Montana tragedy: ‘Our hearts go out to you’, say Swiss Abroad

The court said the measures include a ban on leaving Switzerland, handing over identity and residence documents to the prosecutor’s office, reporting to a police station every day and paying a bond as security.

The court said “the amount of the bond, which requires further investigation, will be set later”. It added that because prosecutors did not seek pre-trial detention, such a measure could not be imposed. Jessica Moretti is still presumed innocent at this stage of the inquiry.

+ Crans-Montana tragedy highlights limits of Swiss federal system

On Monday, the court approved three months’ pre-trial detention for Jacques Moretti, Jessica’s husband and co-manager of the venue where the New Year’s Eve fire killed 40 people, citing a risk he might flee.

Translated from Italian by AI/sp

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