Swiss launch criminal inquiry over suspected oil smuggling in Libya
Diesel from Libya's state-owned National Oil Cooperation was smuggled to Malta.
Keystone/Str
The Swiss justice authorities have opened criminal proceedings in connection with alleged smuggling of gasoil belonging to a Libyan state-owned company.
This content was published on
2 minutes
swissinfo.ch/ug
The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) on Thursday confirmed that it had launched formal investigations into unknown persons for complicity in pillage.
The OAG said the suspicions had been substantiated in a preliminary investigation, the Keystone-SDA news agency reported on Thursday. The OAG declined to give further information.
“The initiation of proceedings against a Swiss company in such a case is an important step forward in the pursuit of accountability for economic actors who are active in conflict zones,” the NGO Trial InternationalExternal link said.
The move follows a criminal complaint handed in by Trial International against the Swiss-based trading company, Kolmar, two years ago.
‘No involvement’
Kolmar has rejected the allegationsExternal link following the investigation, which Trial International conducted with the Swiss NGO Public Eye to trace the transnational oil trading network originating in Libya.
“Kolmar Group AG has not had any involvement in criminal activities, and in particular, in any smuggling operations. Kolmar Group AG has never been contacted or questioned by law enforcement or any regulatory or judicial authorities in any investigation or inquiries related to the matters raised in the Public Eye/Trial International report,” the company said in 2020.
It is seeking to sue the NGOs for slander.
According to the NGOs, Kolmar allegedly purchased more than 50,000 tonnes of fuel from Libya in 2014 and 2015, which, with the help of armed groups and a series of middlemen, were diverted and stored in Malta.
A previous version of this news stated that the trading company Kolmar was facing a criminal inquiry. This is incorrect. The article was adapted on 19.04.2022.
Popular Stories
More
Climate adaptation
Why Switzerland is among the ten fastest-warming countries in the world
Train vs plane: would you take a direct train between London and Geneva?
Eurostar is planning to run direct trains from Britain to Germany and Switzerland from the early 2030s. Would you favour the train over the plane? If not, why not?
Rhine could warm by up to 4°C by 2100, scientists warn
This content was published on
The water temperature of the Rhine River could rise by up to 4.2° degrees Celsius by the end of the century due to the warming planet, scientists warn.
This content was published on
The Federal Council wants to explore the possibilities of joining the European Union’s €800-billion rearmament programme without compromising Swiss neutrality.
Defence Minister Pfister stresses importance of Swiss mission in Balkans
This content was published on
During a visit to the Balkans region last week, Swiss Defence Minister Martin Pfister met Swisscoy peacekeeping troops in Kosovo.
Premiere for Swiss Air Force on French National Day
This content was published on
On July 14, the Swiss Air Force will take part in the traditional air parade in Paris to mark the French bank holidays with an F/A-18 fighter jet. This is a first for Switzerland.
Swiss launch competition for memorial to Nazi victims
This content was published on
The victims of Nazi Germany are to be commemorated on the Casinoterrasse in Bern. A competition will be held to determine what the site will look like.
This content was published on
The cantonal police of Graubünden in eastern Switzerland have arrested and convicted five cocaine dealers in Chur within a week.
This content was published on
The Swiss business umbrella organisation Economiesuisse and the employers' association broadly support the package of agreements negotiated with the European Union.
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
Criminal complaint filed against Swiss trader Kolmar for alleged oil smuggling
This content was published on
Civil society groups have accused the Zug-based oil trader Kolmar of complicity in war crimes related to the purchase of oil from war-torn Libya.
Will Covid-19 push Swiss multinationals forwards or back to business as usual?
This content was published on
Our analysis of what global companies in Switzerland are up to. This week: responsible business initiative and Lonza talks vaccine production.
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.