No proof terrorist funds cross Switzerland, prosecutor says

Claude Nicati says the Americans need to supply direct proof Keystone

The deputy federal prosecutor, Claude Nicati, says American officials have not proven that terrorist funds transit Switzerland.

His remarks come a week after Italian and Swiss police raided the offices of the Nada Management company, formerly known as al-Taqwa, in the Lugano area.

The financial services concern was accused by the Americans as being one of several informal cash exchanges – known as “hawalas” – which are thought to funnel millions of dollars to terrorists outside the traditional banking system.

In an interview with L’Hebdo, a weekly magazine, Nicati said while there was enough information to warrant an investigation, the Americans have yet to demonstrate any direct link between al-Taqwa and terrorism.

So far the Swiss investigators have failed to find a document among those seized that shows any guilt. Nicati says the lack of information from the Americans means the investigation could take longer than previously anticipated to complete.

Many leads to follow

“We needed two or three months more to know exactly what we were looking for,” said the prosecutor. “Now we will have to follow many different leads before focusing on two or three.”

The two directors of Nada, Youssef Nad and Ghaleb Himmat, were detained for questioning by the Swiss authorities, but are so far not accused of any wrongdoing.

“If we find nothing, they will go free,” said Nicati. “Our investigation is only related to the September 11 attacks.”

Nada confirmed in an interview on Wednesday with Qatar’s al-Jazeera television network that he was a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, but denied any connection with suspected terrorist Osama bin Laden and his al Qaeda organisation.

Nicati also said differences in working methods between Switzerland and the United States has slowed down the exchange of information between the two parties. The prosecutor has to constantly remind the Americans that only signed written requests are acceptable under Swiss law.

The official expects to head to Washington in the coming days to receive the information he needs to pursue his investigation. “I will get to ask questions, read their documents and get copies of what I require for our investigation,” said Nicati.

Investigators suspect that hawalas also help terrorists acquire material and supplies by acting as front organisations. They believe bin Laden has made use of them to acquire and distribute funds.

swissinfo with agencies