Crans-Montana fire investigation adds former Chermignon official as 15th suspect

Swiss prosecutors have named a former vice‑president of the former municipality of Chermignon (2013‑2016) and later a Crans‑Montana council member (2017‑2020) as the 15th suspect in the 2023 fire at the bar "Le Constellation" in the ski resort of Crans‑Montana. The man chaired Chermignon’s fire commission in 2015, and authorities hope his testimony will illuminate extensive renovation work carried out by the bar owners, Jacques and Jessica Moretti, more than a decade before the blaze.

The New Year’s Eve fire killed 41 people, mostly young adults, and injured 115. All suspects, including the new detainee, face charges of negligent homicide, negligent bodily injury and negligent arson. Jessica Moretti is also under investigation for document forgery following her last interrogation on 5 June.

Further interrogations are planned for July: the new suspect on 14 July, former Chermignon mayor Jean‑Claude Savoy on 16 July, and the former safety officer of Chermignon’s Energypolis campus on 28 July.