Omar Chabán

Who is Omar Chabán?

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.