Shipowner gets five years in prison for fraudulent state credit claims
A former shipowner has been sentenced to five years in prison for having falsified claims about his fleet in order to receive credit guarantees from the Swiss state.
This content was published on
2 minutes
Keystone-SDA/dos
Hans-Jürg Grunder was convicted of fraud and criminal mismanagement in a Bern court on Thursday in a case estimated to have cost the Swiss state around CHF204 million ($217 million).
The 66-year-old, who until 2017 had operated a dozen ships, was accused of misleading the Federal Office for National Economic Supply into believing his companies were in a worse financial situation than they actually were, in order to benefit from more state credit guarantees.
Switzerland underwrites the debts of several ocean-going vessels that make up its merchant navy, which was formed just after the Second World War to guarantee supplies to the landlocked country. In return, Switzerland retains the right to requisition these ships in times of crisis.
Defence lawyers argued that Grunder had not acted to make personal gains. Rather he had been the victim of an unscrupulous business partner, as well as the 2008 global financial crisis, they said.
They had argued for the overturning of all charges, which they claimed were unfounded and unfairly aimed at Grunder, rather than others involved in the affair. Prosecution lawyers had called for a prison sentence of seven-and-a-half years.
Switzerland is in the process of downsizing its merchant navy fleet following a downturn in shipping freight and the emergence of other means to keep the country supplied. The demobilisation process will cost CHF300 million.
Currently, 18 vessels are in operation for the merchant navy, underwritten by the state to the tune of CHF333.9 million, reports the Keystone-SDA news agency. They are owned by four shipowners operating 10 shipping companies.
Young undocumented migrants gain easier access to vocational training
This content was published on
Rejected asylum-seekers and young undocumented migrants in Switzerland will have easier access to basic vocational training from June 1.
Migration: Swiss government wants to shorten reunification period for families
This content was published on
Family members of people temporarily admitted to Switzerland should in future be able to join them after two years instead of three.
This content was published on
2023 was a record year for the Rhaetian Railway in several respects. Never before has the narrow-gauge railway in Graubünden, eastern Switzerland, transported so many passengers and cars.
Swiss CFOs much more optimistic despite global uncertainty
This content was published on
The main concerns of business leaders in Switzerland are geopolitical uncertainty and the important trading partners Germany and China.
Record organ donation in Switzerland despite high rejection rates
This content was published on
More organ donations were recorded in Switzerland in 2023 than ever before. This was despite a high rejection rate of 58% by surviving relatives.
This content was published on
Seven years after the death of record-breaking Swiss mountain climber Ueli Steck, his estate is going to the Alpine Museum of Switzerland in Bern.
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
Ship owner charged with fraudulently claiming Swiss state funds
This content was published on
Switzerland underwrites the debts of several ocean-going vessels that make up its merchant navy, which was formed just after the Second World War to guarantee supplies to the landlocked country. In return, Switzerland retains the right to requisition these ships in times of crisis. The credit guarantee system was disbanded in 2016 following allegations of…
This content was published on
The Swiss merchant fleet, whose home port is Basel but whose ships never sail within sight of Swiss soil, was founded in 1941 when, as the war escalated, finding new avenues to bring essential economic supplies into Switzerland was paramount. Today the fleet, which contributes just a fraction to Switzerland’s gross domestic product compared with…
This content was published on
Two more ships in Switzerland’s maritime commercial fleet are in financial difficulties, according to government reports.
Demobilising Swiss merchant navy to cost another CHF100 million
This content was published on
Eight more ships, from the Massmariner company, are to be sold off, bringing the size of the fleet down to 20. The government has asked parliament to stump up another CHF128.7 millionExternal link to cover the outstanding debts of the ships. Following their sale, losses are expected to amount to CHF100 million. In 2017, parliament…
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.