Crans, new shadows on Jacques Moretti: suspicious rallies and dangerous links with the Corsican mafia

Jacques Moretti, owner of the bar Le Constellation in Crans Montana, was among the victims of a fire that killed 41 people and injured 115 others on New Year’s Eve 2023. The incident came two years after he and Sebastien Bottinelli, a billionaire financier based in Geneva, participated in an automobile rally in Corsica aboard a 1976 Fiat 131 Abarth owned by Bottinelli. This seemingly routine event has since taken on a darker significance, revealing potential ties between Moretti and organized crime in Corsica. The rally took place in October 2023, with the participation of a vehicle that would later become central to a broader investigation into illicit financial activities. According to an interview published in the Swiss weekly Le Matin Dimanche by a convicted member of the Corsican criminal organization La Brise de Mer, the use of high-performance cars in rallies served as one of several methods used to launder money. This group, based in the north of Corsica, was responsible for a major heist against the UBS bank in Geneva in March 1990, stealing 31.4 million francs. Francis Mariani, the leader of La Brise de Mer, was known for his involvement in criminal enterprises across Corsica, France, and Switzerland. He had a deep interest in motorsports, frequently participating in the Corsica Rally. His connection to Jacques Moretti extended beyond shared interests; both were natives of Bastia, a city with historical links to organized crime. While direct familial ties have not been confirmed, their overlapping networks suggest a complex relationship rooted in business and mutual interests. Claude Chossat, a former associate of Mariani and a convicted criminal, recounted how he once saved Moretti's uncle from being targeted by Mariani. This act of intervention highlights the intricate web of relationships that characterized the region’s underworld. Additionally, Moretti’s father attended Mariani’s funeral, an event that Chossat described as merely symbolic rather than indicative of active participation in criminal activity. The financial dealings of Moretti and his associates further complicate the narrative. In Switzerland, they received credits exceeding five million francs, despite having lost access to funding from the French bank Credit Lyonnais. This discrepancy suggests a pattern of financial manipulation, possibly facilitated through legal channels that allowed them to bypass traditional banking restrictions. Chossat explained that the use of high-value vehicles in racing events was part of a larger strategy to clean dirty money. These cars, costing between 150,000 and 200,000 Swiss francs, represented substantial investments that could move large sums discreetly. The Swiss banking system, known for its discretion, enabled these transactions, allowing criminals to acquire luxury goods and commercial properties without scrutiny. The case involving Moretti and Bottinelli underscores the intersection of legitimate business and criminal enterprise in the Alpine region. As authorities continue to investigate the connections between past crimes and current financial practices, the role of motorsports in facilitating illegal activities remains under examination. The ongoing inquiry seeks to clarify whether these events were mere coincidences or part of a coordinated effort to maintain influence and control within local and international criminal circles.