Swiss make "gesture" after death of Nigerian
The government has confirmed the payment of SFr50,000 ($49,280) to a family of a Nigerian man who died at Zurich airport in March shortly before a deportation flight.
It said payment was made by the Federal Migration Office as a “humanitarian gesture in an exceptional situation”, adding that payment was neither compensation nor a recognition of debt.
In its reply to a parliamentary question, the government noted there was no Swiss legislation that covered such an incident.
The Nigerian’s family, through a lawyer, last month said it was not happy with a post mortem that found the man, a convicted drug dealer who was restrained by force, had died of heart failure.
According to the examination, the man had been suffering from a serious heart disease that was almost impossible to detect.
After his death, Switzerland temporarily suspended forced repatriation flights.
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