Santo Domingo- Just two minutes before the legal deadline, the Public Ministry filed this Saturday the request for a coercive measure against businessman Antonio Espaillat and his sister Maribel Espaillat, accused of their alleged responsibility in the collapse of the roof of the Jet Set nightclub, which occurred on April 8th.
The tragedy left a devastating toll of 236 people dead and dozens injured, becoming one of the worst disasters recorded in an entertainment center in the country.
The document was delivered to the New City Courthouse at 1:58 p.m., just two minutes before the expiration of the legal deadline to present the accusation before the judge of the Permanent Attention Office of the National District. This prevents the accused from obtaining their automatic release due to the expiration of the term.
The Espaillat brothers are accused by the Public Ministry of involuntary manslaughter and violations of structural safety regulations and the operation of public venues. According to investigations, technical warnings about failures in the building's infrastructure, where the well-known nightclub operated, had been ignored.
The requested coercive measure would include pre-trial detention, due to the seriousness of the case and the high social impact of the tragedy. The hearing is expected to be scheduled in the coming hours, while the accused remain in custody at the Ciudad Nueva preventive prison.
Spanish
