By Haig Simonian in Zurich Published: February 11 2011 23:14 | Last updated: February 11 2011 23:14 The Swiss government moved swiftly on Friday to freeze all accounts held by Hosni Mubarak, his family and selected prominent Egyptians linked closely with his administration.
The list covered included Mr Mubarak and his wife, their two sons and their respective wives, as well as Mr Mubarak’s brother-in law.
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Also included were Ahmed Alaa El Din Amin El-Maghrabi, a former minister for housing, services and urban development, Mohamed Zoheir Mohamed Wahid Garana, former tourism minister, Habib Ibrahim El Adli, former interior minister, Rachid Mohamed Rachid, former trade and industry minister, and Ahmed Ezz, a prominent businessman and former secretary of the ruling National Democratic party.
Bern’s formal decree called on all Swiss banks to check their records for funds held by the listed people and report these to the Swiss government, while freezing any transactions.
André Simonazzi, Swiss federal government spokesman, said the authorities had no inkling of how much might be deposited in Swiss banks, or exactly by which members of the Mubarak family or its entourage. “In this way, the federal government will seek to avoid any risk of [misappropriation] of Egyptian state property,” the Swiss government said in a statement.
The special decree also ordered the freezing of all assets, including property and luxury goods.
The move was accompanied by an exhortation form Bern to the Egyptian authorities quickly to follow the legitimate wishes of the people “in a credible, participative and transparent manner.”
The Swiss move followed a similar decision last month regarding any assets held by Tunisia’s former ruling Ben Ali family and its followers, as well as Laurent Gbagbo, president of the Ivory Coast.
Switzerland has regularly been used by foreign potentates as a haven for their assets because of its bank secrecy, political stability and personal safety. However, progressive tightening of Swiss legislation has made it increasingly difficult to stash illegal funds in Swiss banks, or to lay claim to assets when a potentially corrupt leader has been deposed.
This month, Switzerland passed new legislation facilitating the return of illegally accrued wealth, even in cases where a country may not yet have put together a fully functioning justice framework.
Posted: at 12-02-2011 10:07 AM (14 years ago) | Upcoming
frankisco at 12-02-2011 10:36 PM (14 years ago) (m)
all africans leaders have to learn from this. becouse revolution is coming to african countries one by one. i wish that nigeria will be the next to fall in line
Posted: at 12-02-2011 10:36 PM (14 years ago) | Newbie
frankisco at 12-02-2011 10:40 PM (14 years ago) (m)
all african leaders have to learn from this, becouse revolution is coming to all the african countries one by one i wish that nigeria will be the next to fall in line.
Posted: at 12-02-2011 10:40 PM (14 years ago) | Newbie
all africans leaders have to learn from this. becouse revolution is coming to african countries one by one. i wish that nigeria will be the next to fall in line
that is only if nigerians can and will ever be united and have a unity of purpose to forge a common front.
Posted: at 12-02-2011 11:11 PM (14 years ago) | Gistmaniac
cool1933 at 13-02-2011 03:32 PM (14 years ago) (m)
O Swiss, O Swiss! Holier than thou government/people. You always accepts and keep money for despots. But when they are ousted, you would seize the money and pretend that they are for the oppressed people. And even when these despots are gone, yet the money is never returned to the people and if the money is returned, it would take many years of diplomacy to get just part of the money.
But the question is: When would other despots and would-be despots learn their lesson from the hypocrisy of Swiss government/people? History keeps repeating its self. It is like a vicious circle. Simply sad.
Posted: at 13-02-2011 03:32 PM (14 years ago) | Newbie
cool1933 at 13-02-2011 03:36 PM (14 years ago) (m)
O Swiss, O Swiss! Holier than thou government/people. You always accepts and keep money for despots. But when they are ousted, you would seize the money and pretend that you are for the oppressed people. And even when these despots are gone, yet the money is never returned to the people and if the money is returned, it would take many years of diplomacy to get just part of the money.
But the question is: When would other despots and would-be despots learn their lesson from the hypocrisy of Swiss government/people? History keeps repeating its self. It is like a vicious circle. Simply sad.[/size]
Posted: at 13-02-2011 03:36 PM (14 years ago) | Newbie
interpo77 at 13-02-2011 06:54 PM (14 years ago) (m)
heartless african leaders, see swiss and see african money being dumped there when do african leader will open up their thinking faculty and know that enough is enough pple re tire of being poor and living as slave in ur father,s country well done swiss
Posted: at 13-02-2011 06:54 PM (14 years ago) | Gistmaniac
interpo77 at 13-02-2011 06:59 PM (14 years ago) (m)
Quote from: cool1933 on 13-02-2011 03:36 PM
O Swiss, O Swiss! Holier than thou government/people. You always accepts and keep money for despots. But when they are ousted, you would seize the money and pretend that you are for the oppressed people. And even when these despots are gone, yet the money is never returned to the people and if the money is returned, it would take many years of diplomacy to get just part of the money.
But the question is: When would other despots and would-be despots learn their lesson from the hypocrisy of Swiss government/people? History keeps repeating its self. It is like a vicious circle. Simply sad.[/size]
so re u inn or out ?cos ur post shows a lot/huge blaim on swiss on season these holliganns money' ohh come on,it is better for them (yeye african leaders)so that they would learn keeping the stolen money in swiss is no more save so try to live gud and do gud, use it in building factories to better life,s
Posted: at 13-02-2011 06:59 PM (14 years ago) | Gistmaniac
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