Santo Domingo- The Public Ministry reported this Thursday that the brothers Antonio Espaillat López and Maribel Espaillat, owners of the nightclub Jet Set Club, are not only facing charges of involuntary manslaughter, but have also made moves to try to intimidate or manipulate employees of the company Inversiones E y L, S.R.L., which managed the nightclub.
According to the court document supporting the arrest warrant, the accused allegedly attempted to interfere with individuals who could serve as witnesses in the judicial process, an action that could worsen their legal situation. The authorities believe this seeks to obstruct the course of the investigation into the collapse of the establishment’s roof, a tragedy that left 236 dead and more than 180 injured.
The Public Ministry accuses the Espaillat brothers of “immense irresponsibility and negligence” for not carrying out the necessary interventions to correct the structural flaws in the roof, despite being warned about the risk. The collapse occurred during an event in which the venue was full, dramatically increasing the number of victims.
Both were arrested after being questioned by Deputy Prosecutor Wilson Camacho, head of the General Directorate of Prosecution of the Public Ministry, and will be presented before a permanent attention judge of the National District to determine coercive measures.
The file, managed by the Public Ministry before Judge Fátima Scarlette Veloz Suárez, of the Tenth Instruction Court, accuses the defendants under Article 319 of the Dominican Penal Code, relating to involuntary manslaughter.
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Authorities continue to gather evidence, while paying special attention to protecting the integrity of potential witnesses in the case.
