THE owner of a Swiss bar where 40 people died in a horrific New Year’s Eve fire has admitted the nightclub’s emergency exit was locked, reports say.
Jacques Moretti, 49, told investigators that he found a pile of bodies on the floor when he unlocked the door after the deadly blaze, according to local media.
The reports could confirm previous allegations made by two former employees that Le Constellation’s emergency exit was often bolted shut.
Mr Moretti and his wife Jessica, 40, are being investigated over several crimes relating to the deadly blaze including homicide by negligence.
According to RTSMr Moretti – who was arrested on Friday due to a flight risk – admitted to cops that the emergency exit leading out of the club’s basement had been locked on the night of the fire.
But he claimed that he did not know why the door had been locked.
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The owner also told investigators he personally replaced the foam layer on the ceiling which later burst into flames during the catastrophic blaze.
If police find that the pair knowingly kept the door locked and knew the risks, it’s understood they could face new charges.
The current accusation is negligent homicide – but the couple could be charged with murder by implied malice.
The owners could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted of such a crime.
Mr Moretti also reportedly said he had replaced the foam himself – removing the old acoustic foam in favour of a different one purchased from the Hornbach DIY store.
It comes after two former staff members claimed fire extinguishers were often locked away at Le Constellation bar.
Known only as Maxime and Sarah, the former employees said that fire safety training at the bar in Crans-Montana had been “dicey”.
Maxime told BFM: “I always said that if waitresses held up sparklers and they came into contact [with the ceiling]everything could go up in flames.
“There was definitely a risk and the safety measures were a bit dicey … staff weren’t briefed on fire safety and the emergency exit was sometimes blocked or locked.”
On top of the 40 people killed by the blaze, some as young as 14 years old, 119 people were injured in the catastrophe.
As Mr Moretti – who is alleged to be a former “pimp” with an extensive criminal history – was taken into custody on Friday, his wife told reporters she wanted to “apologise”.
While her husband was being taken to jail in a white van with tinted windows, Ms Moretti continued: “It’s an unimaginable tragedy. We never could have imagined this. I want to apologise.
Beyond wearing a tag, Ms Moretti will now have to report to police every three days.
Despite the apology and reports that the owner knew the emergency exit was locked, it is understood that the Morettis will continue to deny any criminal or civil wrongdoing, according to their defence team.
Dozens of victims, some as young as 14 years old, lost their lives after the rapid inferno engulfed the ski resort nightclub.
Lawyers for the victims of the fire had called for the couple, who are both French nationals, to be placed in pre-trial detention.
Sébastien Fanti, counsel for wounded who remain in hospitalsaid of Mr Moretti before today’s hearing: “He’s a shady character whose practices raise questions.”