Montesinos Torres affair: USD 50 million blocked in Switzerland
Bern, 03.11.2000 - -
Bank accounts which have to be attributed to Vladimiro Lenin Montesinos Torres, the former chief of the Peruvian secret service (SIN), have been blocked by the judicial authorities of the Canton of Zurich. These accounts are with three banks in Zurich. The assets deposited in these accounts, which amount to USD 50 million, have been blocked in the context of a criminal investigation opened against Montesinos on 5 October 2000 on the grounds of suspected money laundering. This investigation was opened on the basis of, among other things, information received and analysed by the Money Laundering Registration Office of the Federal Office of Police. Any other banks which hold assets that may be attributed to Vladimiro Lenin Montesinos are requested to notify the Money Laundering Registration Office of this fact.
Pursuant to the Federal Law on International Judicial Assistance in Criminal Matters, the Federal Office of Justice has informed the Peruvian authorities about the existence of these accounts. Switzerland has also invited the Peruvian authorities to submit to the Swiss authorities a request for judicial assistance pursuant to the 1997 Treaty between the Swiss Confederation and the Republic of Peru about Judicial Assistance in Criminal Matters, with the aim of applying for documentation regarding these bank accounts.
Address for enquiries
Federal Office of Justice, T +41 58 462 48 48
Publisher
Federal Office of Justice
http://www.bj.admin.ch
