Santo Domingo.- The Public Ministry, in the accusatory file of the case Jet Setpoints out that the brothers Antonio and Maribel Espaillatowners of the famous Jet Set Club, they aggravated their responsibility by overloading the roof of the establishment with industrial air conditioning equipment and water tanks, without carrying out the technical studies that would guarantee its resistance.
Furthermore, they ignored internal warnings on the deterioration of the structure, prioritizing the saving resources over security of employees and customers.
The collapse occurred on April 8, 2025 became one of the greatest tragedies in the country’s recent history, with 236 dead and more than a hundred injured. Among the victims were the merengue player Rubby Perezthe governor of Montecristi Nelsy Cruzthe former professional baseball player Octavio Dotel and several family members Grullonas well as resident foreigners and touristswhich gave the case a international dimension.
The formal accusation, filed with the Coordinating Office of the Investigative Courts of the National District, charges the brothers with the crimes of manslaughter and unintentional blows and injuriesaccording to articles 319 and 320 of the Dominican Penal Code, and requests the opening to trial to establish his direct responsibility.
The prosecution supports its accusation with expert reports from engineers, photographs, employee testimonies and records that show that overload and lack of maintenance were determining factors in the collapse. Experts agree that the structural failures were predictable and avoidableand that the tragedy could have been prevented with basic security measures.
Although the case is being tried under the current Penal Code, the new Penal Codealready approved but not yet coming into force, establishes more severe sanctions for those responsible for tragedies like this: prison of up to 10 years and fines of 20 to 30 minimum wages when the victims exceed five people. Jurists consulted assure that, if the reform had been in force, the Espaillat would have faced much harsher sentences.
The collapse of the Jet Set Club has left a deep wound in Dominican society and revived the debate on the responsibility of owners of public premises, structural safety and criminal negligence that can transform a night of fun into a historic tragedy.
