Spanish
Santo Domingo. – The Jet Set nightclub, where the roof collapsed on April 8 during a massive party, was operating with expired permits and without the current authorization of the Fire Department or the Ministry of Public Works, according to the accusatory file filed by the Public Ministry.
In the request for a coercive measure against the owners of the establishment, Antonio Espaillat and Maribel Espaillat de Veras, the authorities state that the premises did not comply with the minimum safety certifications to operate as a mass entertainment center.
"The establishment's land use permit had expired since 2022 and did not have updated certifications regarding evacuation, fire systems, or structural resistance," states the court document.
The tragedy at the Jet Set nightclub occurred during a party where the renowned merengue singer Rubby Pérez was performing, who was singing at the time of the collapse and is among the more than 235 registered deaths in the event. In addition, more than 170 people were injured.
You can also read: Prosecutor's Office reveals that Jet Set exceeded the permitted capacity and lacked adequate emergency exits
The prosecution maintains that, despite having been notified on several occasions by municipal inspectors and safety technicians, the defendants "decided to maintain the operation of the business, assuming the risk that ultimately materialized with catastrophic consequences". This negligence, at the Jet Set nightclub, is part of the set of elements that motivate the request for pre-trial detention for Antonio Espaillat for 18 months, as well as precautionary measures for Maribel Espaillat, including house arrest, prohibition of leaving the country, and periodic reporting. The file also denounces the omission of basic safety protocols, which, along with other irregularities, turned the Jet Set nightclub case into one of the biggest civil tragedies in the recent history of the Dominican Republic.
