Dominican nightclub owner and his sister arrested after roof collapse led to 236 deaths

The owner of a well-known club in the Dominican Republic, where a roof collapse led to the tragic deaths of 236 individuals in April, has been arrested alongside his sister.

Antonio Espaillat y Maribel Espaillat have not been charged in the case, although authorities have 48 hours to present any charges before a judge.

“The Attorney General’s Office of the Dominican Republic stated that both defendants exhibited tremendous negligence and irresponsibility for not taking action to prevent the collapse of the club’s roof, which resulted in the loss of 236 lives and left over 180 people injured,” as reported.

Prosecutors accused the Espaillats of trying to intimidate or manipulate company employees, adding that they could serve as witnesses in the case.

An attorney for the Espaillats could not be immediately reached for comment.

They Espaillats were arrested after being interrogated for several hours.

A government-appointed committee that includes international experts is still investigating what caused the roof to collapse.

Crews worked for 53 hours nonstop after arriving on the scene in Santo Domingo shortly after midnight on April 8, rescuing 189 survivors.

Among the casualties were notable figures such as singer Rubby Pérez, who was on stage at the time of the incident, and Nelsy Cruz, the sister of seven-time MLB All-Star Nelson Cruz and the governor of Montecristi province.

Also killed was former MLB pitcher Octavio Dotel, who was pulled from the debris but died at a hospital, and Dominican baseball player Tony Enrique Blanco Cabrera.

Other victims include a retired U.N. official, New York-based fashion designer Martín Polanco, an Army captain who left behind four young girls, and three employees at Grupo Popular, a financial services company, including the president of AFP Popular Bank and his wife.

The club, which had operated for nearly five decades, was known for its Monday night merengue parties that attracted international celebrities and high-profile Dominicans.