Attorney generals pledge to pursue Angola fund probe
Federal Prosecutor Michael Lauber during a news conference earlier this year
Keystone
Senior justice ministry officials from Switzerland and Angola have discussed closer cooperation in a major international case of suspected corruption.
This content was published on
2 minutes
swissinfo.ch/urs
The Swiss authorities have blocked around $150 million (CHF150 million) in assets held by the Angolan National Bank and the Angolan sovereign wealth fund amid ongoing criminal proceedings involving an Angolan-Swiss businessman, Jean-Claude Bastos.
In talks with Angola’s attorney-general, Hélder Fernando Pitta Groz on Thursday, Swiss counterpart Michael Lauber stressed the importance of coordinated action between law enforcement authorities in the fight against corruption, according to the Swiss attorney-general’s office.
“There can be greater mutual support when each country has better understanding of the prosecution specific to the other, particularly with regard to the legal principles by which money laundering proceedings are conducted in Switzerland,” a press release said.
Pitta Groz told the Tages-Anzeiger newspaper group that he was confident he would have enough evidence in a few weeks’ time to take Bastos to court.
Switzerland has already unfrozen $60 million in Angolan assets that were blocked several years ago.
Bastos, a top manager of the Swiss-based Quantum Global Fund, is suspected of corruption and money laundering and legal cases have been opened both in Angola and Switzerland.
The 50-year old entrepreneur lives in Angola and is banned from leaving the country.
The $5 billion sovereign wealth fund is embroiled in an international dispute with its former boss, Jose Filomeno dos Santos, the son of the former president, Eduardo dos Santos, and Quantum Global.
More
More
Swiss investigating money laundering linked to Angolan funds
This content was published on
The attorney general has opened criminal proceedings against unknown persons on suspicion of money laundering, his office told financial news agency AWP on Thursday. The statement confirms information published on Wednesday in several Swiss papers. The criminal proceedings are linked to possible offences against the assets held by the Angolan National Bank and the Angolan…
Should raw milk sales be banned or should consumers decide?
Swiss food regulations do not allow raw milk to be sold for direct consumption. However, a loophole allows 400 raw milk vending machines to do just that.
Is reforming the Swiss pension system still possible, and if so, how?
Solutions still need to be found to meet the challenge of an ageing population and to improve the pensions of low-paid workers, the majority of whom are women.
Swiss set record for world’s longest hyperloop test
This content was published on
Swiss scientists have established a record for
the longest-ever hyperloop journey at a facility in Lausanne, Switzerland. They aim to test technology that could be used in new-generation high-speed transport systems.
This content was published on
The Swiss army wants to purchase new German armoured howitzers to replace its existing artillery system which has been in operation for over 50 years.
Poll suggests Donald Trump has many fans in Switzerland
This content was published on
Around a quarter of Swiss citizens would vote for Donald Trump if they had the chance, according to a recent poll. This percentage is higher than in many other European countries.
Swiss court rejects special assistance for student with disabilities
This content was published on
The Swiss Federal Court has rejected an application for special assistance from a student with disabilities at the federal technology institute ETH Zurich.
Police arrest 15 drug dealers in Verbier in southern Switzerland
This content was published on
Swiss and French police have arrested 15 suspected drug dealers operating in the mountain resort of Verbier in southern Switzerland.
New European space tech centre in Switzerland launches its first project
This content was published on
The European Space Deep-Tech Innovation Centre (ESDI), launched in collaboration with the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI), is to be located in the immediate vicinity of the PSI in northern Switzerland.
Swiss Federal Railways launches campaign for safety on public transport
This content was published on
The Swiss Federal Railways is launching a campaign for greater respect and safety on public transport, with posters to go up in stations and on trains starting next week.
Swiss scientists to use AI for improved weather and climate forecasts
This content was published on
MeteoSwiss and the Swiss Data Science Center have signed a four-year agreement to make greater use of AI in meteorology and climatology going forward.
This content was published on
Prices of owner-occupied homes rose in the third quarter of 2024 by 0.5%, with inflation affecting both apartments and single-family houses, says the Federal Statistical Office.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Swiss investigating money laundering linked to Angolan funds
This content was published on
The attorney general has opened criminal proceedings against unknown persons on suspicion of money laundering, his office told financial news agency AWP on Thursday. The statement confirms information published on Wednesday in several Swiss papers. The criminal proceedings are linked to possible offences against the assets held by the Angolan National Bank and the Angolan…
Swiss froze millions linked to Banco Espirito Santo
This content was published on
The Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland froze over CHF160 million ($159 million), linked to the collapse in 2014 of Banco Espirito Santo private bank.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.