Benazir to appear before Swiss Court today in Money laundering case

ISLAMABAD: Former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and PPP Chairperson Benazir Bhutto would appear before the court of Inquiry Magistrate in Switzerland today (Monday) to defend money laundering charges against herself and spouse Asif Ali Zardari .

Benazir Bhutto along with her advocate Farooq Naik would appear before Swiss Magistrate to defend allegations of money laundering case leveled by government of Pakistan. However, Asif Ali Zardari could not leave for Switzerland due to his angioplasty and bed rest.

Earlier, Benazir Bhutto appeared before Swiss Magistrate in June 2004 where she defended the allegations charged against her and alleged the Government of Pakistan for exploiting the foreign judicial system.

Earlier, in August 2003, a Swiss inquiry Magistrate alleging Benazir and her spouse Zardari for money laundering awarded punishment of six months besides the fine of fifty thousand dollars. Later the indictment was suspended when BB and Zardari filed appeal with Swiss Attorney General who ordered to reconduct inquiry into the case.

Government of Pakistan during the regime of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif formally applied to Swiss Government to expedite inquiry against Benazir Bhutto for receiving commission in various governmental agreements and for keeping the money looted from Pakistan under unnamed accounts in Swiss Banks.

According to government of Pakistan, during investigation, seven accounts were recovered where a huge amount worth 13 billion dollars was deposited and the said amount was only accessible for Benazir Bhutto and her spouse Asif Ali Zardari. These accounts are opened in with numbers despite names.