LONDON

A co-owner of the Swiss bar, where 40 people were killed in New Year's Eve fire, has been taken into custody, according to media reports on Friday.

Jacques Moretti, a co-owner of the Le Constellation bar, is in custody due to a potential flight risk, 24 heures newspaper reported, citing prosecutors.

Moretti, along with his wife Jessica Moretti, were in the Prosecutor's Office in Sion earlier on Friday for questioning following the deadly fire.

The French couple arrived at roughly 8 am local time accompanied by their three lawyers as they were escorted by the Valais cantonal police, Swiss Info website reported.

Prosecutor Catherine Seppey argued that Moretti's extensive travel over the years, which included Corsica, Haute-Savoie, and Switzerland, justified his detention.

Leaving the Prosecutor's Office building without her husband, Jessica Moretti said her thoughts were constantly with the victims of the tragedy that took place in their establishment.

'It is unacceptable'

Meanwhile, a day of mourning was held in Switzerland for the victims of the Crans-Montana fire, with Swiss President Guy Parmelin and French President Emmanuel Macron attending.

At a news conference following the memorial service, Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis said the day of reflection was also a moment of responsibility.

"As you have heard, an investigation is underway to establish the facts and determine responsibility," he said at the service, held in the Martigny roughly 40 kilometers (about 25 miles) southwest of Crans-Montana.

Pointing to Switzerland's "strict safety standards," Cassis said:

"If these are not properly applied or monitored, it is unacceptable. This incident must be fully investigated."

This came days after it emerged that the ski resort bar in Crans-Montana had not undergone an annual inspection for the past five years.

The tragic fire incident killed 40 people and left 116 people injured. The victims ranged in age between 14 and 39, with many under 18, according to authorities.

Speaking to reporters earlier this week, Nicolas Feraud, the mayor of Crans-Montana, said all sparkler candles, which were blamed for the fire, have been banned inside venues.

Last week, investigators said that they believe sparkling candles attached to champagne bottles ignited a fatal fire at a Swiss ski resort when they came too close to the ceiling of the bar.