Assem al-Gohary, head of the Illicit Gains Authority (IGA), has received an official letter from the Swiss prosecution saying it is undertaking an extensive investigation into allegations about former President Hosni Mubarak, his wife Suzanne, and others allegedly involved in money laundering, Gohary said in a press statement on Wednesday.
Gohary also said the Swiss prosecution has already frozen some money belonging to Mubarak’s family, but declined to disclose the amount due to a clause of confidentiality in Swiss law.
He added that the prosecution so far has not ordered the arrest of any of the former president's family, but would become a plaintiff in the case should formal charges be brought in order to repatriate the money in accordance with Article 260 of the Swiss law.
Sources said Swiss authorities froze US$962 million from secret accounts belonging to Mubarak’s sons, Alaa and Gamal, and to his wife, adding that the prosecution is also investigating accusations that Mrs. Mubarak received $191 million from a women’s organization in Switzerland.
They also said the amounts that were frozen were Arab and international donations that Mrs. Mubarak had unlawfully seized.
The IGA had ordered the detention of Mrs. Mubarak for 15 days but released her pending investigation after she relinquished a villa and LE20 million to the state. She is expected to be re-summoned in a few days for questioning over the accusations leveled against her in Switzerland.
Translated from Al-Masry Al-Youm
