Swiss authorities are closely examining the financial activities of the Moretti couple, at the heart of an investigation that now extends far beyond the deadly fire of January 1st. According to information revealed by...Le ParisienA confidential report from the Swiss anti-money laundering office highlights several elements deemed worrying by investigators.
This internal document raises the possibility of a financial arrangement that could be likened to a Ponzi scheme. The investigations focus in particular on several million euros obtained in the form of loans under circumstances considered unusual. Authorities are now seeking to determine the conditions under which this financing was granted and whether it was used to support genuine economic activity or to fuel a more opaque financial system.
In this type of scheme, funds from new loans or new investors can be used to cover previous liabilities, creating the illusion of a viable business model. Swiss investigators are therefore trying to determine whether the observed transactions constitute risky financial management or a structured arrangement designed to conceal the origin and use of the funds.
Money transfers between multiple accounts and transfers to France
Initial findings analyzed by Swiss authorities describe a system based on numerous banking transactions. According to information reported by Le ParisienSeveral accounts were allegedly used in order to multiply transactions and make it more difficult to trace financial flows.
Part of the money is believed to have been transferred to France, giving the investigation a cross-border dimension. Swiss financial authorities, known for their anti-money laundering mechanisms, are therefore carefully examining the nature of these transfers and any financial structures that may have been used to carry them out.
Six bank accounts linked to the couple have been frozen as a precautionary measure. This measure aims to prevent any further transfer of funds while the investigation continues.
A Corsican inheritance presented as bank collateral
Among the items examined was an inheritance presented as originating from Corsica. According to the report mentioned by Le ParisienThis asset was allegedly used as bank collateral to facilitate obtaining certain financing.
Investigators are now seeking to verify the actual existence of this inheritance and the validity of the documents allegedly provided to financial institutions. Ongoing investigations could determine whether this asset corresponds to a genuine inheritance or whether it was misrepresented to obtain loans.
The possibility of money laundering is also being considered in the investigation. Authorities are not ruling out the possibility that some of the financial flows may be linked to criminal networks, particularly those associated with organized crime in Corsica. At this stage, the investigation is ongoing to determine whether such links actually exist.
A series of fires that has attracted the attention of investigators
Alongside the financial questions, investigators are also looking into several fires that affected establishments operated or owned by the couple.
The restaurant Le Vieux Chalet was destroyed by fire in 2023, shortly after its purchase. Another establishment, the bar Le Constellation, was subsequently affected by a first fire in February 2024.
These events preceded the particularly dramatic fire that occurred on the night of January 1, 2026, which constitutes the starting point of the current judicial investigation.
The first two incidents resulted in compensation being paid by the insurance companies, for a total amount close to 248,000 Swiss francs.
The investigation has now been broadened to include financial and criminal matters.
Initially opened following the deadly fire of January 1, 2026, the investigation is now expanding its scope considerably. Swiss authorities are seeking to determine whether the uncovered elements – complex financial flows, disputed bank guarantees, and a series of fires – stem from isolated incidents or are part of a more structured system.
The case has now attracted the attention of several agencies specializing in combating money laundering and financial crime. Given that Switzerland has strengthened its financial control mechanisms in recent years, the investigation could also involve judicial cooperation with French authorities.
