In a significant legal development, prosecutors in the Dominican Republic have formally charged the owners of the Jet Set nightclub with manslaughter and involuntary assault and battery following a catastrophic roof collapse that claimed 236 lives earlier this year. The incident occurred on April 8 during a concert by renowned merengue artist Rubby Perez in Santo Domingo, the nation’s capital. Among the victims were Perez himself, two retired Major League Baseball players, and a provincial governor, marking it as one of the deadliest tragedies in the Caribbean in recent decades.
Antonio and Maribel Espaillat, the siblings who own the nightclub, were arrested but later released on bail set at 50 million pesos (approximately $840,000). Prosecutors from the Public Ministry assert that the Espaillats bear criminal responsibility for the disaster, citing hundreds of pieces of evidence. They allege that the owners overloaded the roof by installing air conditioning units and water tanks while disregarding warnings about the structure’s deteriorating condition, allegedly to cut costs.
The tragedy has sparked widespread outrage and legal action. In June, relatives of the victims filed over 50 civil lawsuits against the Espaillats. The case has also drawn attention to systemic issues, including allegations of favoritism toward the owners, whose family controls a media conglomerate. Additionally, the incident has highlighted the lack of safety regulations for privately-owned buildings in the Dominican Republic, prompting President Luis Abinader to pledge reforms to address this gap.
If convicted, the Espaillats face prison sentences ranging from three months to two years for involuntary manslaughter, with similar penalties for involuntary assault and battery, depending on the severity of the damage caused. The case continues to unfold as the nation grapples with the aftermath of the disaster and calls for accountability and improved safety standards.