Sion prosecutors open inquiry into alleged Crans-Montana leaks

Prosecutors in Sion, Switzerland, have opened a separate inquiry into alleged leaks from the investigation into the Crans-Montana New Year’s tragedy.

The tragedy killed 41 people and injured 115.

The new case is not about who was responsible for the disaster; it concerns information from the main investigation that was meant to remain confidential.

Complaints have come mainly from lawyers representing people under investigation, and one concerns the release of emergency-call recordings.

Investigators are examining possible leads, including postal tracking data and electronic file-transfer records.

The focus includes lawyers for the civil parties, who can access case documents, and journalists; some complainants say rules on publishing secret proceedings may have been broken.

The defence lawyers say media coverage could harm their clients and affect witnesses, and some observers speculate that it might later be cited in requests for reduced sentences, but no such decision has been made.

The inquiry is ongoing, and prosecutors are trying to identify who may have disclosed the information.