Financing terrorism: Office of the Attorney General files indictment against two individuals
Bern, 25.01.2024 - The Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland (OAG) has filed an indictment in the Federal Criminal Court against a 59-year-old Swiss-Spanish dual national and a 69-year-old Swiss national. The OAG accuses the two suspects of having provided financial support to the proscribed terrorist organization Islamic State (IS). They allegedly did so by sending over 50,000 Swiss francs to Syria to their son, who was fighting for IS in Syria, and other IS members in Syria.
Context: Proceedings of the OAG against a 29-year-old Swiss national
The two suspects are the parents of a 29-year-old Swiss national. The OAG has been conducting criminal proceedings against him since 2015 on suspicion of supporting or participating in a criminal organisation (Art. 260ter of the Swiss Criminal Code) and of violating Art. 2 of the Federal Act on the Proscription of the Groups «Al-Qaeda» and «Islamic State» and Associated Organisations. In these criminal proceedings, the 29-year-old defendant is suspected of having travelled to Syria in 2015 to join IS as a fighter there. He has been in Kurdish custody in Syria since 2019. As the proceedings against the suspect are not yet concluded, the presumption of innocence applies. The OAG is currently not providing any further information on the case.
Present indictment: OAG proceedings against a 59-year-old Swiss-Spanish dual national and a 69-year-old Swiss national
At the end of the criminal proceedings initiated in 2019, the OAG has charged the two suspects, who are domiciled in the canton of Geneva, with violation of Art. 2 of the Federal Act on the Proscription of the Groups «Al-Qaeda» and «Islamic State» and Associated Organisations. The two defendants are accused of having sent over 50,000 Swiss francs to their son and other IS members in Syria between September 2016 and May 2019.
Since July 2015, the two suspects and their son were in regular contact. According to the OAG's indictment, they knew that he was fighting for IS in Syria. Furthermore, they knew that their son had very low expenses to support himself. The OAG therefore accuses the defendants of having contributed, with the large amounts transferred, to enable their son and other members of IS to cover their current expenses, allowing them to continue to be active for IS in the conflict zone. On the other hand, given the large sums transferred (over CHF 50,000), they also participated in financing the activities of IS.
Now that the indictment has been filed, the Federal Criminal Court has sole responsibility for providing further information. As is customary, the Office of the Attorney General will announce the penalties that is proposing at the main hearing before the Federal Criminal Court. The presumption of innocence applies until a final judgement has been issued.
Address for enquiries
Communication Service of the Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland, info@ba.admin.ch, +41 58 464 32 40
Publisher
Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland
http://www.ba.admin.ch/
