An investigation is ongoing in the Dominican Republic following a tragic incident where a nightclub roof collapse resulted in the death of over 200 individuals.
In early April, the roof of the Jet Set club in Santo Domingo gave way, trapping at least 300 patrons and staff, which included two former MLB players.
The renowned Dominican merengue singer, Rubby Pérez, was performing that night and, unfortunately, did not survive the collapse.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office initiated an investigation into the incident, leading to the arrest of the club’s owners, siblings Antonio and Maribel Espaillat, on June 12.
The New York Times reports that both siblings face charges of involuntary homicide.
The Dominican Republic’s Attorney General’s Office stated regarding their detainment: “Both defendants displayed immense irresponsibility and negligence by failing to physically intervene to prevent the club’s roof from collapsing, as it ultimately did, causing 236 deaths and more than 180 injuries.”
Reports indicate that the club underwent renovations ‘without obtaining the required permits or conducting the necessary structural assessments from the Ministry of Public Works and Communications (MOPC) or the Mayor’s Office of the National District’, as noted by Dominican Today.
Prosecutors have called these actions ‘a complete disregard for building and safety laws’.
The allegations further state: “A key column in the structure was subsequently removed, significantly affecting the roof’s stability, without any professional assessment or permit to support the modification, demonstrating high-risk behavior.”
It is also reported that the Jet Set Club’s roof was excessively loaded with heavy materials.
The Espaillats were allegedly aware of the building’s structural problems ‘through visual reports (photos and videos) and communications from their employees’, yet they did not address these issues.
Considering these factors, the Public Prosecutor’s Office contends that the tragedy of April 8 ‘would have been entirely avoidable if the defendants had acted according to the law and valued life over money’.
The prosecutors added: “The defendant, Maribel Espaillat, was aware of a falling debris incident hours before the collapse and in response to a request to suspend the activity, refused to do so, citing the absence of the defendant Antonio Espaillat López and the impossibility of stopping the party, prioritizing economic gain over the safety and lives of people.”
A trial date for the siblings has not yet been scheduled.
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