The General Prosecutor’s Office of Switzerland (OAG) closed a criminal case against unknown persons on suspicion of money laundering, committed in Switzerland from 2008 to 2010. Investigation in Switzerland was conducted since March 2011
On the basis of a report on the criminal activity submitted by Hermitage Capital Management Ltd, a London company founded by William Brauder, and a report on suspicions of money laundering.
It was about the amount of 230 million US dollars. These funds were allegedly washed first in Russia, then in several other countries and partially in Switzerland. In response, OAG ordered to arrest assets equivalent to about 18 million Swiss francs.
During the investigation, OAG requests were focused on clarifying suspicions related to laundering of amounts transferred from Russia through bank accounts in Switzerland. The OAG investigations, in particular, demanded disclosure of information about a large number of bank accounts in Switzerland, submitting several requests and additional requests for mutual assistance abroad, that is, in Moldova, Lithuania, Russia (the country in which the main offense was committed), Cyprus and Cyprus and Cyprus and Cyprus), Cyprus and Cyprus) USA, as well as an interview with a significant number of people in Switzerland and abroad.
The evidence obtained in this way made it possible to analyze financial transfers with the help of their financial specialists. In this regard, several reports were prepared, the latter dated to May 2021.
The circumstances of the death of Sergei Magnitsky in Russia and its political consequences, including “Magnitsky lists”, were not the subject of the trial, since the investigation of these issues went beyond the law of the jurisdiction of the OAG.
Based on its extensive investigations, OAG can now confirm that the investigation has not revealed any evidence that would justify the accusations against anyone in Switzerland; Therefore, it was decided to terminate the proceedings.
Nevertheless, taking into account the fact that the connection was established between some assets arrested in Switzerland and the main offense committed in Russia, OAG ordered the confiscation of assets and recognized the compensation requirement in favor of the Confederation. The total amount involved is equivalent to more than 4 million Swiss francs.
VChK-OGPU
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