The owners of the Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo, where a tragic roof collapse in April claimed 236 lives, have been arrested and charged with involuntary manslaughter.
Antonio Espaillat and his sister, Maribel Espaillat, were taken into custody on Wednesday, June 12, following their appearance at the Attorney General’s Office. According to a statement from prosecutors, both face charges stemming from what has been described as “gross negligence” leading to one of the deadliest peacetime disasters in the Dominican Republic’s history.
The roof of the popular venue gave way in the early hours of April 8, during a live performance by renowned merengue artist Rubby Perez, who was among those killed. Also confirmed dead were two former Major League Baseball players and a provincial governor.
In the aftermath of the incident, Antonio Espaillat admitted the building had experienced long-term roof issues, which were never addressed. He also revealed that the nightclub had never undergone official inspection a gap made possible by the country’s lack of regulations mandating structural assessments of privately owned buildings.
Authorities have pointed to this oversight as a key factor in the tragedy. Prosecutors described the Espaillats’ failure to take action despite years of visible damage as “immense irresponsibility.”
The high-profile case has drawn national attention and prompted a policy response. President Luis Abinader announced shortly after the incident that a bill was being drafted to enforce mandatory building safety inspections.
The Espaillat family, who also own other business interests including a restaurant and a media firm, are facing over 50 lawsuits filed by grieving families. In a brief statement issued through legal counsel, they confirmed their willingness to cooperate with investigators.
