A Dominican Republic court has granted bail to the owners of Jet Set nightclub, where a catastrophic roof collapse during a live concert killed 236 people, including beloved merengue singer Rubby Perez, two retired MLB players, and a provincial governor.
The siblings, Antonio and Maribel Espaillat, were released on Thursday after posting bail set at 50 million pesos each (approximately $842,500). They face charges of involuntary manslaughter, stemming from what prosecutors described as “immense negligence” for failing to maintain the venue’s deteriorating structure.
The tragic incident occurred on April 8, when the roof of the iconic Jet Set club gave way during a packed performance. Antonio Espaillat, 59, later admitted the building had experienced roof leaks for years, yet no repairs were made and no safety inspections were ever conducted, a gap allowed under current Dominican law.
While the defense team pledged full cooperation with authorities, prosecutors pushed for the pair to remain in custody, citing the gravity of the disaster and the high number of fatalities. The bail decision has drawn criticism, with lead prosecutor Wilson Camacho calling it a “mockery of the victims.”
Despite their release, the Espaillats must remain in the country and report regularly to legal authorities. The family, who also owns a media company and a restaurant, is now the subject of numerous lawsuits filed by victims’ families seeking justice and accountability.
President Luis Abinader has since vowed to introduce new legislation requiring safety inspections for all privately owned buildings, aiming to prevent such a devastating tragedy from happening again.
“If we are found legally responsible, we will accept the consequences,” said the siblings’ lawyer, Miguel Valerio, following the court hearing.
The case continues to draw national attention, as the country mourns one of its worst peacetime disasters in decades.
