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It was preserved as a record on August 2; the timeline below shows how it unfolded, with sources. Get the briefing to follow the top situations still developing: three emails a week, sourced and in order.

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11 clusters · 38 sources · 67 days · First seen · Last updated

Dominican Jet Set trial – asset seizure appeal

Overview

The 8 April 2025 roof collapse at Santo Domingo’s Jet Set nightclub, which killed 236 and injured more than 180, has led to criminal proceedings against owners Antonio and Maribel Espaillat. In June 2026 a judge upheld involuntary‑homicide charges, imposed bail, travel bans and seized assets valued at roughly RD$500 million, while ordering victim compensation. Judge Clara Luz Almonte recused herself on 26 June 2026; a new judge was later assigned by a computer‑generated random draw.

The Espaillat siblings appealed the asset freeze on 23 June 2026, arguing that the multiple embargos and judicial mortgages could exceed RD$1.5 billion and request a single insured‑company guarantee preserving the RD$500 million valuation. The appeal was formally notified to victims’ lawyers on 2 July 2026, and a hearing date is pending.

On 6 July 2026 the Fourth Chamber of the Criminal Court scheduled the trial. Because the charge of involuntary homicide falls below the threshold for a collegiate tribunal, a single judge will decide the case. Civil defendants named include Radio Cadena Comercial, Difusora Hemisferio, Inversiones CCEP‑02, S.A., Evelyn Espaillat and Ana Grecia López. The trial will address criminal liability and further compensation for victims’ families.

Timeline

  1. [CRIME] 8 sources
    Espaillat Family Appeals RD$500 Million Asset Freeze in Dominican Jet Set Collapse

    Jet Set owners in the Dominican Republic appeal a RD$500 million asset freeze tied to the 236‑death collapse, seeking to replace multiple embargos with a single insurance‑backed guarantee.

  2. [CRIME] 2 sources
    Jet Set discotheque owners face trial in Dominican Republic for deadly roof collapse

    Dominican owners Antonio and Maribel Espaillat are to be tried for culpable homicide after the Jet Set discotheque roof collapse killed 236 and injured 180+.

  3. [CRIME] 2 sources
    Dominican judges order trial of Espaillat brothers over Jet Set discotheque collapse

    Dominican judge orders trial of the Espaillat brothers for the April 2025 Jet Set discotheque roof collapse, labeling it involuntary homicide and imposing asset freezes.

  4. [CRIME] 3 sources
    Dominican Court Opens Homicide Trial Over Jet Set Discotheque Collapse

    Dominican judge opens a homicide trial against Jet Set owners Antonio and Maribel Espaillat for the 236‑death discotheque collapse, freezing 500 million pesos to protect victims.

  5. [CRIME] 2 sources
    Dominican nightclub owners to stand trial for 236 deaths in roof collapse

    Sibling owners of Santo Domingo’s Jet Set nightclub, where a roof collapse killed 236 in April 2025, will face trial for involuntary manslaughter, with potential two‑year sentences amid calls for harsher punish

  6. [CRIME] 12 sources
    Dominican nightclub owners to stand trial for 236 deaths

    Dominican judge sends nightclub owners Antonio and Maribel Espaillat to trial for involuntary homicide after the Jet Set roof collapse killed 236 and injured over 100, keeping existing bail and asset freezes.

  7. [CRIME] 2 sources
    Dominican judges to rule on Jet Set tragedy and Coral corruption cases

    Dominican judges will decide on a trial for the Jet Set nightclub collapse and announce verdicts in the Coral corruption scandal involving alleged misappropriation of over RD$4.5 billion.

  8. [CRIME] 2 sources
    Dominican jet club disaster victims honored in mass at former Jet Set site

    A mass at the former Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo remembered 236 victims of the April 2025 disaster, with families demanding justice ahead of a June 15 hearing.

  9. [CRIME] 14 sources
    Dominican Republic's Jet Set nightclub collapse cause contested by experts

    The Jet Set nightclub roof collapse in the Dominican Republic, killing 236, is disputed: families' lawyers blame construction defects, while a government report blames excessive added load.

  10. [CRIME] 2 sources
    Jet Set nightclub roof collapse in Santo Domingo prompts testimony from Maribel Espaillat

    Jet Set roof collapse in Santo Domingo prompts Maribel Espaillat's court testimony and wallet-related explanation.

  11. [CRIME] 3 sources
    Widow of designer Martín Polanco attends as Jet Set Club collapse case resumes in the Dominican Republic

    Widow of Jet Set designer Martín Polanco attends as the case over the 236-death Jet Set Club collapse resumes in Santo Domingo.

Sources

20minutos.es · almomento.net · asturiashoy.com · barrigaverde.net · bbcmundo.com · diariolibre.com · eldia · eldia.com.do · elliberal.cat · elmundoderegina.com · elnacional · elnuevodiario.com.do · elpaisdominicano.do · ensegundos.do · expansion.com · extremaduradiario.com · finalweapon.net · forestgrovenewstimes.com · hoy.com.do · kagonma-info.com · lan103fm.com · larepublica.pe · m.n.com.do · n.com.do · naciodigital.cat · noticiariobarahona.com · noticiasdealmeria.com · nyfights.com · ocio.diarioinformacion.com · ocio.farodevigo.es · pasoapaso.com.do · porelojodelacerradura.com.do · puntacanahits.com · Remolacha.net · siamevent.com · sootoday.com · upday.com · winnipegfreepress.com