The release of Jacques Moretti reopens wounds and questions about the New Year’s Eve massacre in Crans Montana. Between indignation, judicial gaps and financial mysteries, the Swiss myth of order and transparency is faltering
“If Juliet was a slut, then what is Heidi?”. The friend who calls me immediately after the release from prison of Jacques Moretti, under investigation for the Crans Montana massacre, is very angry with Switzerland. And he reminds me of the brilliant banner displayed by Neapolitan fans in Verona with the insult to Romeo’s lover: “Juliet is a slut”. “So, tell me, Heidi, what is she?”, he insists. I don’t I know, I reply. “The mountains certainly don’t smile. «For shame».
Maybe my friend exaggerates, maybe Heidi isn’t ashamed and maybe the Swiss can continue to boast the title of the best chocolatiers of the world for the sweets they produce and not for the figures they make. Perhaps. But of course the last (last for now) act of the New Year’s Eve tragedy can only arouse indignation. Jacques Moretti he came back free, without even electronic braceletthanks to bail paid by a mysterious friend, some say with money arrived from Dubai. The magistrates maintain that there is no danger of escape or tampering with the evidence. We don’t know where they get this firm conviction from, but it is to be hoped that they are right. Because if, by chance, that gentleman on his conscience 40 boys dead and 116 injured were to suddenly disappear into thin air, well, then we wouldn’t take Heidi out of the world of fiction anymore, but Terminators.
An investigation in Gruyere
In fact Moretti was in prison for two weeks. The Prosecutor’s Office arrested him too late and released him too soon. And it is not the only flaw in an investigation which seems, to stick to Swiss specialities, a gruyerefull of holes as it is. Why was Moretti, immediately after the massacre, left free to pollute the evidence? Because they weren’t done autopsies of the victims? And because no one, for five years, carried out checks in that place, while the fireplaces of every apartment in the building? And because those who haven’t done the checks (starting from mayor) is not under investigation? Why did he even remain in office with the ability to make evidence and documents disappear? After Moretti’s release, Italy recalled theambassadorthus opening a small one diplomatic crisis. To which the Swiss reacted as always in recent weeks: by acting offended. As if to criticize the gentlemen ofcuckoo clock was treason.
Money, shadows and Swiss myth
“Do you know the truth?” The friend who was angry with Heidi calls me back. I tremble. Luckily this time he left the cartoon world. But he’s even more furious than before. «The truth is that we have always overestimated the Swiss» he says. «Precision, order, cleanliness. But what cleaning? Rivers have always passed there dirty money». In fact, it’s true: the streets are historically mirrored, the finances less so. «Now everyone discovers that in Switzerland the cliquesi silences and the silence. Now they find out? Why not until yesterday? On the money brought from those parts, on the secrets of bankson the mysteries of the vault Hasn’t the same silence always reigned? Haven’t the same silence always been in force? Other than transparency: that is a opaque system. It always has been. They’re used to that.”
I’ll stop him before he gets insulting William Tell or to hypothesize the launch of the Thunderbolt on Bern. But when it comes to money, who can blame him? Also in this Swiss affair i money they are surrounded by mystery. Think about it: Moretti is released from prison (with little more than… 200 thousand euros) because it turns out penniless. Him who went around with luxury carwho bought premises and villas as if they were chocolates, living the good life. Where did that money come from that allowed him, prejudicedto open businesses and buy properties without ever asking for a mutual? Who’s behind it? Who finances it? And who does the money come from? bail? Was it really paid for by Dubai? On the front financial Switzerland has never been transparent. Now it’s not even on the front judicial. «It makes me want to invade the canton of Valais with a bulldozer», says my friend, always a little exaggerated. I try to calm him down but he insists. “I had a doubt.” Tell me. «You know all that brown stuff they produce, and export?». Certain. «Here: we are sure it is chocolate?”
