Parliament to probe Swiss interior minister blackmail affair
A parliamentary sub-committee will examine the role of the police and judiciary in prosecuting a woman for attempting to blackmail Swiss interior minister Alain Berset.
This content was published on
1 minute
swissinfo.ch/mga
Parliamentarians will determine whether prosecutors acted appropriately or if they violated due process of the law because of Berset’s status.
The Weltwoche newspaper first reported last year that an unidentified woman had been fined for threatening to make public letters and photographs unless Berset paid CHF100,000 ($110,000).
The blackmail attempt happened in November 2019 and the fine was handed out in September 2020 after Berset issued a criminal complaint against his former lover.
Earlier this year, Weltwoche ran another article claiming that Berset deployed state resources to deal with his private complaint. The story alleged that Berset asked his ministry’s secretary-general to look into the case, while an elite police unit, normally used for risky operations, was also reportedly dispatched to take the woman into custody.
This article prompted an investigation by Swiss federal prosecutors into whether official documents were leaked to Weltwoche.
On Monday, the parliamentary sub-committee said it would be launching its own probe into the affair. It will also ask whether state funds were inappropriately used to secure the conviction.
This content was published on
A majority of Swiss citizens have open attitudes towards various infertility treatments, including even egg donation, which is currently prohibited.
Reports of Swiss cyber fraud almost doubled in six months
This content was published on
The head of the new Federal Office for Cybersecurity (FOC), Florian Schütz, has presented a new strategy after just over four months in office.
Ecological status of Swiss streams insufficient according to study
This content was published on
Pesticide use and obstructions of waterways have a particularly negative impact on sensitive organisms, completely absent in 70% of streams analysed.
Train line between Brig and Domodossola interrupted
This content was published on
One day after a derailment approximately 15 kilometres from the Swiss border, BLS is running buses for passengers between Preglia and Domodossola, in Italy.
Swiss football boss wants crackdown on individual hooligans
This content was published on
The head of the Swiss Football League says he prefers a harsher approach to individual hooligans rather than collective punishment measures affecting all fans.
Amherd: Council of Europe is ‘as urgently needed as ever’
This content was published on
The Swiss government emphasised on Sunday the vital role of the Strasbourg-based Council of Europe, 75 years after it was founded.
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
Inquiry to look at possible leak of documents in Berset blackmail case
This content was published on
After more details of a case involving the Interior Minister were revealed in the press, a special prosecutor is to investigate if official documents were leaked.
Attempt to blackmail Swiss interior minister under investigation
This content was published on
A woman who tried to blackmail Swiss Interior Minister Alain Berset last year has been fined after retracting her claims against him, it has emerged.
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.