A devastating New Year's Eve fire at a Swiss nightclub, which claimed 40 lives, is now shrouded in further mystery after it was revealed the venue's CCTV system reportedly 'crashed' just three minutes before the inferno broke out.
Critical Evidence Missing as Owner Faces Charges
According to reports, detectives investigating the tragedy at Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana only have access to security footage up to 1:23 am on 1 January. The fire is said to have erupted at approximately 1:26 am.
In a police interrogation, the bar's owner, Jaques Moretti, stated of the system: 'At that point, the system crashed. I can't reset it.' He is now under formal investigation for negligent homicide and negligent bodily harm.
Moretti reportedly showed investigators screenshots from the final recordings, which included 11 camera angles. However, the complete footage from the crucial moments remains unavailable. Adding to suspicions, pictures and videos of the bar posted on social media allegedly vanished hours after the fire, prompting concerns about evidence being destroyed.
Exhausted Waitress at the Heart of the Tragedy
The blaze was ignited by pyrotechnics attached to champagne bottles, which set fire to highly flammable foam used for soundproofing in the basement ceiling. The person holding those bottles was 24-year-old waitress Cyane Panine, who tragically died alongside 39 others.
New details have emerged suggesting Cyane was severely overworked. Her lawyer, Sophie Haenni, told German newspaper Bild that Cyane was 'mentally and physically' exhausted from her job and was on the verge of publicly revealing her 'exploitation'.
She worked shifts both at the Morettis' gourmet burger restaurant, Senso, and at Le Constellation bar, often from day until the early hours. Her lawyer claims she never received safety training and was unaware of the dangerous foam on the ceiling.
On the night of the fire, Cyane was reportedly asked by bar manager Jessica Moretti to go to the basement to help serve numerous champagne orders. A witness stated it was at Jessica Moretti's request that Cyane was then filmed wearing a Dom Perignon-branded crash helmet, her vision obscured, while sitting on the shoulders of DJ Mateo Lesguer, 23, holding the sparkler-fitted bottles.
Legal Fallout and Flight Risks
Cyane's lawyer argued the casualties 'could have been avoided' if safety standards had been followed. 'Cyane is undoubtedly a victim,' Haenni stated.
The legal repercussions are now unfolding. Jaques Moretti is being held in custody for an initial 90 days, with prosecutors arguing he is a flight risk. Last week, a Swiss court imposed a travel ban on Jessica Moretti as an alternative to pre-trial detention, also citing a 'risk of flight'. She has been ordered to surrender her passport and must report to police daily.
The investigation continues as authorities piece together the final moments of a celebration that ended in catastrophe, with critical questions remaining about safety failures and the missing CCTV footage.
