Pakistan: Swiss govt to seize Benazir’s assets

KARACHI, 6 May — The Swiss government has dropped a hint it will seize the $12 million worth of Benazir Bhutto’s assets if the former Pakistani prime minister was found guilty of corruption. Switzerland’s Chief Prosecutor Bernard Berdusa said in Geneva on Friday the assets were frozen some two and half years back following complaints by Pakistan that Benazir and her husband Asif Zardari had accumulated wealth through dishonesty and corruption. He explained that the Swiss government had the authority to use the money the way it liked. Once the charges against Benazir were proven, the money would be confiscated, but it will not be returned to Pakistan government. The European state has returned plundered assets to a number of government in recent years. However, in the case of assets of a former Nigerian dictator and his family, the wealth accumulated by them, was returned to their government only partially. The rest of the money was used by the Swiss authorities to retire the debt liabilities of the African state. Responding to a question as to what are the criteria for trusting a government, the Swiss official said there was no rule and judicial authorities decide such cases according to discretions available to them. Berdusa said that his personal opinion could be vital in disposing of the case against Benazir. Personally, he said, he was opposed to returning the money to the administration in Islamabad.   <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />