The owner of a popular Dominican Republic nightclub where 236 people were killed in a catastrophic roof collapse has been arrested, along with his sister, following accusations of gross negligence.
Antonio Espaillat and his sister, Maribel Espaillat, were taken into custody on Thursday, June 12, according to the Associated Press. Prosecutors now have 48 hours to formally bring charges against the pair.
Authorities allege that the siblings, who operated the iconic Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo, failed to take critical action to prevent the April 8 collapse, which also injured more than 180 people.
“Both defendants displayed immense irresponsibility and negligence by failing to physically intervene to prevent the club’s roof from collapsing,” the Dominican Republic’s Attorney General’s Office said in a statement. “As a result, 236 lives were lost.”
Among the dead was merengue music legend Rubby Pérez, who was performing that night before a crowd of over 500 people. The tragedy also claimed the lives of former MLB players Octavio Dotel and Tony Blanco, as well as Nelsy Cruz, the governor of Montecristi province and sister of baseball star Nelson Cruz.
Jet Set was celebrating its 50th anniversary that evening — a bittersweet milestone for a venue deeply rooted in the Espaillat family. The club was founded by their mother, and Antonio had taken over management decades ago.
In the days after the disaster, Antonio gave an emotional television interview, pledging to cooperate with the investigation and expressing deep remorse.
“To the families of the victims, I want to say I’m sorry. I’m very sorry,” he said in the April 23 broadcast. “I am completely destroyed. There are no words to express the pain this event has caused.”
Despite claiming the building showed “no warning signs” before the collapse, Antonio admitted that the roof had long-standing water filtration problems, reportedly caused by the club’s aging air conditioning system.
President Luis Abinader addressed the nation shortly after the tragedy, offering his condolences and promising full support for rescue and recovery efforts. “We deeply regret the tragedy that occurred at the Jet Set nightclub,” he said. “Our prayers are with the affected families.”
Authorities described Antonio as a powerful and influential businessman in the Dominican Republic, with ownership over high-end entertainment venues and numerous radio stations. Prosecutors now allege that the Espaillats attempted to pressure or manipulate employees who could become key witnesses in the case.
The cause of the collapse remains under investigation as the country grapples with one of its deadliest civilian disasters in recent memory.
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Author: thedailycrime1
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