Swiss suspend al-Qaeda probe

2005-06-01 22:08

Geneva - Swiss prosecutors on Wednesday said they had suspended a three-and-a-half year investigation into a Swiss-based Egyptian businessman suspected of financial ties with Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network.

Switzerland's highest court last month had ordered the federal prosecutor's office to decide by the end of May to either press charges or suspend the procedure.

Hansjuerg Mark Wiedmer of Swiss federal prosecutor's office said: "We haven't dropped the case, it has been suspended", adding that it could be reactivated at any time if new evidence emerged.

Investigators had launched a probe into Yussef Nada shortly after the September 11 2001 attacks in the United States, amid suspicions that his eponymous financial management company, formerly known as Al Taqwa, might have played a role in helping al-Qaeda.

'Bank accounts were frozen'

Nada and a business associate were reportedly on a US list of potential suspects, prompting a search of their offices and homes in southern Switzerland, nearby Italy and Liechtenstein in November 2001, while bank accounts were frozen.

Wiedmer said: "We had enough elements to open and lead the investigation, but we didn't have enough for an accusation", dubbing the investigation a "qualified success".

He said investigators identified where they had gaps in their knowledge, while also gaining greater certainty in other areas without giving details.

Wiedmer said: "This investigation is only part of several investigations on international terrorism" in Switzerland.

Nada had denied wrongdoing.

His lawyer told Swiss news agency that all the allegations against his client had been "liquidated".

- AFP