The judge of the Office of Permanent Attention of the National District, Rigoberto Sena, ordered the postponement of the pre-trial custody for the accused in the collapse of the roof of JetSet Club on 8 April 2025 that resulted in the death of at least 236 persons and the injuries of more than 180 persons. The defense lawyers in the case argued that they had not been notified of the charges levied by the Prosecution Department of the Attorney General Office that is under Wilson Camacho.
The new hearing was postponed for Wednesday, 18 June at 11am. More than 80 legal suits have been presented against the ownership of the nightclub, and also against the government for lack of oversight. In the case, Antonio Espaillat and his sister Maribel were arrested on Friday, 13 June 2025.
The prosecutors have accepted new evidence of witnesses to substantiate claims that the owners of the nightclub knew there was a serious problem with the roof and delayed in taking action.
One of the accused, the manager of the JetSet Club at the time of the tragedy, Maribel Espaillat, reportedly fainted and was admitted to be hospitalized at the Clinica Abreu, instead of being required to await her pre-trial conditions at the Ciudad Nueva 4th floor jail.
More than 80 persons have already submitted claims for compensation, including the case of the Massiel Javier Almonte, widow of late baseball player Octavio Dotel, who is asking for RD$300 million. Dominican law gives up to six months for victims to sue for damages and compensation. The victims are suing the government for lack of oversight and the owners for negligence.
Over the weekend, the Attorney General Office that is investigating the case issued a press release establishing details that suggest the owners knowingly ignored critical structural issues, that eventually led to the building collapse on the patrons and employees. According to reports managed by the investigators, the defendants “resorted to inadequate palliative solutions solely in the interest of saving resources” when fully aware there were significant problems with the roof.
The PGR in the press release identifies Antonio Espaillat and Maribel Espaillat as the key figures, who reportedly had “direct and constant knowledge of the serious problems presented by the roof, through visual reports (photos and videos) and communications from their own employees.” Despite explicit warnings about falling debris and imminent danger, they allegedly “chose to ignore them.”
The Attorney General Office press release states that the ownership put first their economic profits before the security of their customers and staff.
Specifically, Maribel Espaillat is accused of refusing to suspend activities just hours and minutes before the collapse, when notified falling debris had injured regular customer Reemberto Duran made by employee Gregory Adames. She allegedly refused to do so, citing that only her brother could do that, and he was abroad. Shortly after that request, the roof collapsed. Gregory Adames was at the club that evening and is also suing the Espaillats.
Noticias SIN reports on the screenshots of the cell phone Whatsapp communications by employee Gregory Adames with Antonio Espaillat informing him of the serious dangers.
CDN report gives details on how Antonio Espaillat and his sister Maribel Espaillat could have stopped the party that evening and did not do so.
Those who defend the victims will seek to move the court to look into other categories to incriminate the Espaillats, as reported in El Nuevo Diario TV following an interview with lawyer Felix Portes who is carrying the case for several victims. The present charge of involuntary homicide would represent at most two years in jail for the accused.
The Dominican government has picked up the tab for the damages caused to families by the collapse of the roof. As reported, the last person who was hospitalized at a public hospital was sent home last week. The Dominican government has covered medical costs in public hospitals, with the highest subsidized medical coverage of any natural disaster. The Abinader administration is making available a RD$30,000 monthly stipend to victims with a six-month duration.
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16 June 2025