Probe into assets of former Ivory Coast dictator
The justice authorities have been unable to trace funds allegedly salted away in Swiss banks by Ivory Coast's former dictator, Henry Konan Bédié, according to a Swiss newspaper.
The French language newspaper, “Le Temps”, said the justice authorities had drawn a blank in trying to locate funds belonging to Bédié. The paper speculated that the former dictator’s accounts might have been emptied at the start of the investigation.
Bédié, who was overthrown in a coup last year, has been indicted in his home country for allegedly siphoning off around SFr40 million in public funds and hiding the money in overseas banks.
In March, the Swiss authorities blocked several accounts at the request of Ivory Coast. Le Temps said they were hoping to find between five and seven million francs.
The Federal Police Office would not confirm the results of the investigation, said “Le Temps”. A spokesman said the results of their investigative work would not be released until the end of July.
It is thought that the police are not happy with the quality of information passed on by the authorities in Ivory Coast. Le Temps said much of it was riddled with holes and inaccuracies. It cited one instance where Abidjan mentioned the name of a Swiss bank, which does not exist.
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