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| Europe |
| Swiss court allows release of evidence in Libyan nuclear probe |
| 2006-08-03 |
| GENEVA - SwitzerlandÂ’s supreme court on Thursday cleared the way for legal assistance to German authorities investigating alleged smuggling of material for LibyaÂ’s nuclear weapons programme in 2001 to 2003. In a ruling released Thursday, the Federal Tribunal rejected an appeal by the owners of a South African company, who had sought to block the transfer of Swiss banking documents to Germany. The couple, who were not named, were suspected of transferring funds to Swiss bank accounts after being commissioned to make parts for gas centrifuges to enrich uranium, according to the ruling. They had received a one million euro (1.3 million dollars) advance payment in Dubai, the Swiss federal prosecutorÂ’s office charged. The case is related to the trial in Germany of a 63 year-old German engineer, Gotthard Lerch, on charges of helping LibyaÂ’s attempts to develop nuclear weapons. Lerch, who was arrested last year in Switzerland, where he lived, has denied the accusations. |
| Posted by:Steve |