Timed out by Swiss watch: CBI tells SC

NEW DELHI: The CBI on Thursday informed the Supreme Court that Switzerland has refused to cooperate in tracking the Bofors payoff accounts due to lapse of time.

“On March 2, a communication was received from the Federal Department of Justice and Police, Berne, through the Indian embassy there in which the Swiss authorities declined the request for assistance on grounds of time bar,” said two affidavits filed by the CBI.

The CBI has said the Swiss decision to not provide information in the matter is final. This has been communicated through the message, said the affidavit.

“As may be understood from the decision dated January 24 (which has become final in the meantime), it is not possible under Swiss law to continue a matter of money laundering when the prosecution of the underlying crime has not resulted in a conviction so far, and its continuation is now barred by the rule of lapse of time.”

The decision by the competent cantonal magistrate confirms the legal situation and makes it clear that no additional cooperation is available in this matter, said CBI.

The agency said it had requested Swiss authorities to help in tracking the source of funds deposited in the account from where remittances were made to Quattrocchi’s accounts in BSI AG, London in 2003. The request was made in pursuance of the letters rogatory issued by the trial court in the capital on April 25, 2006.

sanjay.singh@timesgroup.com