Behring steps up the pressure over his trial

Behring outside the Bellinzona court in early June Keystone

Swiss financier Dieter Behring has lodged a complaint with the Swiss Office of the Attorney General against the judge presiding over his trial.

It is the second complaint he has made over people involved in his court case.

The 61-year-old Behring has been answering charges at the Bellinzona Federal Criminal Court after his collapsed investment scheme cost clients some CHF800 million ($804 million). He is accused of fraud, qualified money laundering and embezzlement.

On Saturday the Attorney General’s OfficeExternal link confirmed a report in the Tages-Anzeiger newspaper that Behring had lodged a complaint against the president of the Bellinzona court, Daniel Kipfer Fasciati. The judge heads the three-strong team which is overseeing the Behring case.

The Attorney General’s Office told the Swiss News Agency said that among the allegations listed in the complaint were suspicions of a breach of judicial confidentiality and abuse of office.

It will be looking into the matter. If it the complaint is deemed unfounded it will issue an order of dismissal, otherwise the complaint will go before the relevant parliamentary commissions who would decide whether criminal proceedings could be taken, as the judge enjoys immunity.

Behring has already lodged a complaint against the Swiss Attorney General himself, Michael Lauber, as well as two other employees of that institution. It was announced earlier this month that this was being looked into by the senior public prosecutor for canton St Gallen.

The Behring trial started in June this year. He has always denied any wrongdoing and has pledged to fight the charges. Prosecutors are calling a sentence of six years and nine months. The verdict is expected in September.