Switzerland confirmed Wednesday that France has made a formal request for judicial cooperation in investigations into Jean-Christophe Mitterrand, who is accused of involvement in arms shipments to Angola and is the owner of a Swiss bank account.
Geneva public prosecutor Bernard Bertossa told AFP the request had arrived at the end of December.
"This request is being examined by a Geneva examining magistrate who will have to decide on its admissibility," he explained.
Jean-Christophe Mitterrand, the eldest son of former French president Francois Mitterrand, has categorically denied allegations of arms trafficking and misuse of political influence.
However, he has admitted being paid 13 million french francs (two million Euros, 1.8 million dollars) into a Swiss account.
Bertossa declined to say whether the account has already been blocked as requested by a French examining magistrate. The bank where the account was opened, Darier Hentsch in Geneva, also declined comment on the matter.
Investigators suspect the sum paid into a Swiss bank account was in return for helping organise arms sales worth some 500 million dollars in 1993 and 1994 to the government of Angolan President Edouardo Dos Santos.
However Mitterrand's lawyer said the money was a lawful commission paid for helping arrange loans for the Angolan government against future oil sales.
"He has not had any money left in Switzerland for a long time," Jean-Pierre Versini-Campinchi said.
Under an agreement between France and Switzerland, requests for judicial cooperation can be transmitted directly between regional courts, avoiding having to go through the governments of the two countries -- GENEVA (AFP)
© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
