Switzerland praised for anti-corruption efforts
According to the anti-corruption watch group, Transparency International, Switzerland has taken positive steps towards fighting corruption.
On Monday, the organisation’s president, Peter Eigen, praised Switzerland for its efforts to curb corruption, particularly when it comes to money laundering.
His comments came in the wake of a recent report by French parliamentarians, which criticised Switzerland for not doing enough to combat money laundering.
Eigen also praised Switzerland for acting swiftly to enact legislation conforming with the Council of Europe’s convention on fighting corruption, which Switzerland signed in February.
The convention covers not only private individuals, but also national and international government officials.
Eigen cited Switzerland’s handling of allegedly-embezzled funds belonging to the former Nigerian dictator, Sani Abacha, as an example of the country’s active enforcement of anti-corruption measures.
Last year, Swiss justice authorities blocked several accounts held in Abacha’s name after coming under fire for failing to act properly when dealing with the former dictator’s money.
Nigerian officials believe Abacha may have stashed away as much as $3 billion in Swiss bank accounts.
Transparency International was founded in 1993 and is based in Berlin.
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