Criticism mounts over attorney general’s handling of Swiss resort fire case: Report

By Ilayda Cakirtekin

ISTANBUL (AA) - Criticism of local Swiss prosecutors’ handling of the case of a deadly fire in a ski resort town is mounting, Swiss daily Blick reported.

At least 40 people were killed when the New Year’s Eve blaze broke out at a bar in Crans-Montana, a popular ski resort in Switzerland’s Valais canton.

The victims ranged in age between 14 and 39, with many under 18, according to authorities.

Lawyers are reportedly calling for the recusal of Valais Attorney General Beatrice Pilloud amid growing criticism over her handling of the case.

One recurring criticism revealed on Wednesday was that she is not personally leading the criminal investigation, having delegated it to a team of four prosecutors.

Initially, she even reportedly entrusted the investigation to a young prosecutor who had never previously led an investigation.

The “signal of a lack of seriousness” was repeatedly cited, as the failure to prioritize the most experienced prosecutors raised questions.

The report also said that though Pilloud has held her current position for two years, she has never personally conducted a criminal investigation.

"The question is whether Beatrice Pilloud can still claim to be directing the investigation, and if she is not doing so, then someone should explain to me what purpose it serves for her to be attorney general," said Jean-Luc Addor, a lawyer for the victims.

Saying that Pilloud has brushed off many questions from journalists, the outlet also said she is being criticized for “inadequate communication.”

"We still haven’t received any official communication on the pool of four prosecutors in charge, even though we’re a party to the proceeding," Addor also said.

- Access to interviews and no search of city hall

Another criticism was that prosecutors want to exclude the victims’ families from police interviews, a position that Pilloud also reaffirmed to broadcaster RTS, a move the victims’ lawyers say violates the law.

Under the move, victims would not be able to attend the questioning of municipality safety officers while lawyers for the defendants are allowed to attend the victims’ interviews.

"Interviews conducted without the participation of the parties risk having to be redone. That would be a waste of time," Addor argued.

Pilloud also faces criticism for not placing the bar’s operator and his wife in pretrial detention, reinforcing a prevailing “impression of laxity,” according to the Swiss outlet.

Addor also pointed to the absence of a search of city hall, with the municipality having handed over requested documents itself.

"In a sensitive criminal procedure, the prosecutor’s office must give the police a search warrant to obtain the municipality’s files,” he explained. “Officers must be able to go and seize these documents before the municipality has time to sort through them.”

Pilloud is also being criticized for "poorly managed conflicts of interest" after prosecutors reportedly proposed three lawyers to the victims’ families, one of whom is a cousin of the lawyer representing the opposing party.

"These are elements that either escaped the attention of the public prosecutor’s office and the police, or did not receive the scrutiny they warranted," the outlet said.

On Wednesday, Pilloud herself acknowledged that it was a “misstep.”