Teh New Year’s Day fire that destroyed a bar in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana has brought renewed scrutiny to its owner,Jacques Moretti. Beyond the immediate inquiry into the blaze, a closer look reveals a complex past for Moretti, marked by legal issues in both France and Switzerland and early connections to Corsican nationalist movements. Authorities are now examining the source of funds used to acquire significant real estate holdings in the Valais region, as questions arise regarding the origins of his wealth.
- Jacques Moretti war Barchef in Crans-Montana. Er hatte eine ungewöhnliche Vergangenheit.
- Er wuchs auf Korsika in einem nationalistischen Umfeld auf. Seine Familie war in der Unabhängigkeitsbewegung aktiv.
- Moretti wurde mehrfach verurteilt. Dazu gehören Anstiftung zur Prostitution und Betrug.
The owner of a bar destroyed by fire on New Year’s Day in the Swiss resort town of Crans-Montana has a past marked by legal troubles and ties to Corsican nationalism. Jacques Moretti, who ran the bar Le Constellation, has a history that includes convictions for fraud and soliciting prostitution, raising questions about the source of his wealth and business dealings.
Early Life and Nationalist Ties
Born in 1976 in Ghisonaccia, a village on the eastern coast of Corsica, Moretti reportedly became involved with a nationalist student group during his youth. His mother comes from a family deeply involved in the Corsican independence movement, with three of his uncles active in related organizations. A family member was also allegedly connected to a party banned in 1998 that advocated armed struggle for Corsican independence. That party was led by Charles Pieri, who has been linked to La Brise de Mer, a criminal organization responsible for a 31.4 million Swiss franc robbery from UBS bank in Geneva in 1990.
Legal Issues in Switzerland
Moretti arrived in the Geneva region before the age of 30 and was listed as part of a Lausanne-based administrative company, JSLR Sàrl, established in 2004 and liquidated in 2005. Simultaneously, he operated a property rental business, Les Primevères, in La Clusaz, France, which closed in 2005 but reportedly reopened in 2015. In 2005, he received a one-year prison sentence, with four months suspended, following a conviction.
In 2008, a French court found Jacques Moretti guilty of inciting prostitution. He operated a bar in the Acacias district of Geneva where young women, allegedly recruited from France, worked. During his trial, Moretti denied any wrongdoing, claiming he had only managed the establishment for three months under the guise of a Swiss pimp. His lawyer at the time sought acquittal, arguing that the activity was legal in Switzerland. The conviction resulted in a ban on conducting business in France.
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Business Ventures and Unexplained Wealth
Despite these legal setbacks, Moretti returned to Corsica and, starting in 2010, operated two businesses in Bonifacio: a construction site cleaning company that closed in 2014, and a nightclub. The nightclub, reportedly called Lollapalooza, was described by three sources as a hostess bar. However, that business also closed in 2014, a year before Moretti arrived in the Valais region of Switzerland. There, he made numerous real estate purchases, seemingly without taking out mortgages, investing a substantial fortune of unclear origin. Some have accused him of engaging in mafia-linked activities.
“Where does all his money come from?”
Moretti’s lifestyle in Crans-Montana has not gone unnoticed. “Since his arrival ten years ago, everyone in town has been wondering how he financed his purchases,” confided a local resident. “Nobody understands how he was able to buy all these properties. We’ve always wondered: ‘But where does his money come from?’ Not to mention the luxury cars: Audi RS6, Porsche Cayenne… Recently, he’s been seen driving a Bentley. A new Bentley! It’s registered in the name of his bar, Le Constellation. That’s a car worth 300,000 francs. He couldn’t have bought that by selling bottles and coffee.” Especially considering Le Constellation wasn’t a popular spot. “Except on New Year’s Eve or on rare occasions, it was rather empty. Even if a bar is doing well, the owners aren’t making millions. Ask any operator. They’re just getting by here.”
Residents of Crans-Montana were not only skeptical about the source of the funds but also didn’t take kindly to the newcomer. “He’s not particularly popular here. When he arrived and did work at the bar, he didn’t hire a single company from the area. You can imagine that wasn’t well received. Some are boycotting his establishments because of it.”
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Jérôme Faas (jef) is a journalist and head of the Geneva newsroom at 20 minutes, where he has worked since 2012.
