Omar Chabán
Encyclopedia
Emir Omar Chabán is an Argentine
impresario
, who was imprisoned for a fatal fire in one of his businesses.
Born in San Martín, Buenos Aires
, Chabán became one of the major figures in the Buenos Aires
underground scene during the 1980s as owner of Café Einstein and later Cemento, which became a major venue for alternative rock
concerts, theater acts, and dance parties.
He was noted for his flamboyant fashion statements and his long-term relationship with actress Katja Alemann. Throughout the years, Chabán was linked to many musical acts and performing artists, notably Sumo
, Los Twist, Vivi Tellas, and Bersuit Vergarabat
.
On 30 December 2004, a fire killed 194 and injured over 600 in Republica Cromagnon
, a concert venue that Chabán owned and operated. He who was indicted as responsible; the musical act on that evening, The Callejeros
, had encouraged spectators to light sparklers in the concert hall, even though the ceiling included flammable materials, and once the fire started, fire exits were padlocked and did not open, trapping the people inside fatally.
Chabán escaped capture for some time, and then surrendered. After spending some time behind bars, the judge allowed him to post bail
. After relatives of the victims protested in front of his mother's house in San Martín, Chabán moved to a secluded location on the Paraná delta
area.
Trials of various people connected with the fire, including Chabán, commenced in August 2008. On 19 August 2009, Chaban was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
impresario
Impresario
An impresario is a person who organizes and often finances concerts, plays or operas; analogous to a film producer in filmmaking, television production and an angel investor in business...
, who was imprisoned for a fatal fire in one of his businesses.
Born in San Martín, Buenos Aires
San Martín, Buenos Aires
Ciudad del Libertador General Don José de San Martín, more commonly known as San Martín is the head city of the General San Martín Partido in the Gran Buenos Aires metropolitan area.-Geography:...
, Chabán became one of the major figures in the Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
underground scene during the 1980s as owner of Café Einstein and later Cemento, which became a major venue for alternative rock
Argentine rock
Argentine rock , is composed or made by Argentine bands or artists, in the Spanish language. For nearly half a century it has been a major popular genre, and it is considered part of the popular music tradition of Argentina alongside Argentine Tango, and Argentine folk music.The moment when...
concerts, theater acts, and dance parties.
He was noted for his flamboyant fashion statements and his long-term relationship with actress Katja Alemann. Throughout the years, Chabán was linked to many musical acts and performing artists, notably Sumo
Sumo (band)
Sumo was a 1980s Argentine alternative rock band, merging post-punk with reggae and ska. Headed by Italian-born Luca Prodan, it remained underground for most of its short activity, but was extremely influential in shaping contemporary Argentine rock. Sumo introduced British post-punk to the...
, Los Twist, Vivi Tellas, and Bersuit Vergarabat
Bersuit Vergarabat
Bersuit, formed formally in 1989, is one of the most important Argentine rock bands of the 1990s/2000s. The previous name of the band was Henry y la Palangana....
.
On 30 December 2004, a fire killed 194 and injured over 600 in Republica Cromagnon
República Cromagnon nightclub fire
República Cromañón was a nightclub in Buenos Aires, Argentina.On 30 December 2004, a fire broke out in the club, killing 194 people and injuring 714 others. The venue was playing host to rock group Callejeros and around 3,000 people were in attendance...
, a concert venue that Chabán owned and operated. He who was indicted as responsible; the musical act on that evening, The Callejeros
Callejeros
Callejeros was an Argentine rock band that gained notoriety when the nightclub where they were playing, República Cromagnon, was set on fire during one of its shows, killing 194 attendees, in 2004.-History:...
, had encouraged spectators to light sparklers in the concert hall, even though the ceiling included flammable materials, and once the fire started, fire exits were padlocked and did not open, trapping the people inside fatally.
Chabán escaped capture for some time, and then surrendered. After spending some time behind bars, the judge allowed him to post bail
Bail
Traditionally, bail is some form of property deposited or pledged to a court to persuade it to release a suspect from jail, on the understanding that the suspect will return for trial or forfeit the bail...
. After relatives of the victims protested in front of his mother's house in San Martín, Chabán moved to a secluded location on the Paraná delta
Paraná River
The Paraná River is a river in south Central South America, running through Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina for some . It is second in length only to the Amazon River among South American rivers. The name Paraná is an abbreviation of the phrase "para rehe onáva", which comes from the Tupi language...
area.
Trials of various people connected with the fire, including Chabán, commenced in August 2008. On 19 August 2009, Chaban was sentenced to 20 years in prison.