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FIFA Arrests Come at a Time of Continued Swiss Cooperation FIFA Arrests Come at a Time of Continued Swiss Cooperation
(about 9 hours later)
LONDON — The arrest of top soccer officials on Wednesday for engaging in murky back-room deals while working for the sport’s governing body may seem surprising in Switzerland, a country known for its vaunted culture of secrecy. But analysts say the long arm of American justice had already been shaking up the country. LONDON — The arrests of top soccer officials Wednesday on accusations of engaging in racketeering and fraud while working for the sport’s governing body may seem surprising in Switzerland, a country with a vaunted culture of secrecy. But analysts say the long arm of American justice had already been shaking up the country.
The arrests of several officials of FIFA, soccer’s governing body, in a highly coordinated operation during which plainclothes Swiss officers raided a five-star property overlooking Lake Zurich, have a firm legal basis in both countries. American law gives the Justice Department the authority to pursue cases against foreign citizens living abroad, even if there is only the slightest link to the United States. Equally, while Switzerland’s extradition treaty gives the country the right to reject demands to extradite people for tax crimes, Swiss authorities have agreed to hand over people for prosecution in American courts when it comes to matters of general criminal law.The arrests of several officials of FIFA, soccer’s governing body, in a highly coordinated operation during which plainclothes Swiss officers raided a five-star property overlooking Lake Zurich, have a firm legal basis in both countries. American law gives the Justice Department the authority to pursue cases against foreign citizens living abroad, even if there is only the slightest link to the United States. Equally, while Switzerland’s extradition treaty gives the country the right to reject demands to extradite people for tax crimes, Swiss authorities have agreed to hand over people for prosecution in American courts when it comes to matters of general criminal law.
Nevertheless, analysts say, the move, which grabbed headlines across Switzerland, can also be viewed as part of a cultural shift in recent years. The small and famously secretive country has gradually, if not reluctantly, become more cooperative with foreign authorities as its banking sector and companies seek to expand and flourish abroad, particularly in the United States. Nevertheless, analysts say, the move, which grabbed headlines across Switzerland, can also be viewed as part of a cultural shift in recent years. Switzerland has gradually, if not reluctantly, become more cooperative with foreign authorities as its banks and other companies seek to expand and flourish abroad, particularly in the United States.
Luc Thévenoz, director of the Center for Banking and Financial Law at the University of Geneva, noted that it was rare for so many foreign citizens to be arrested in such a public and high-profile manner in Switzerland. But he emphasized that while cooperation over banking secrecy has been grudging, the Swiss have long been cooperative on general criminal matters. “Switzerland outgrew its small-country attitude a long time ago,” he said. Luc Thévenoz, director of the Center for Banking and Financial Law at the University of Geneva, noted that it was rare for so many foreign citizens to be arrested in such a public manner in Switzerland. But he emphasized that while cooperation over banking secrecy had been grudging, the Swiss had long been cooperative on general criminal matters.
In the area of banking secrecy, the issue reached a seminal moment in 2009, when UBS, Switzerland’s largest bank, agreed to hand over the names of 4,450 of its clients to American judicial authorities, as well as pay a fine of $780 million for facilitating their tax evasion. In the rarefied world of Swiss banking, the degree of disclosure was viewed by many as an extraordinary and reckless break of client confidentiality. “Switzerland outgrew its small-country attitude a long time ago,” he said.
American law enforcement officials have since charged dozens of Swiss bankers and financial advisers with facilitating tax evasion. And Swiss banks have gradually even handed over names of dozens of their employees to the United States Justice Department. In the area of banking secrecy, a seminal moment was reached in 2009, when UBS, Switzerland’s largest bank, agreed to hand over the names of 4,450 of its clients to American judicial authorities, as well as pay a fine of $780 million for facilitating tax evasion. The degree of disclosure was viewed by many as an extraordinary and reckless break of client confidentiality.
American law enforcement officials have since charged dozens of Swiss bankers and financial advisers with facilitating tax evasion. And Swiss banks have gradually handed over names of dozens of their employees to the United States Justice Department.
The increased willingness to cooperate with the United States in law enforcement was exemplified by the high-profile arrest of the film director Roman Polanski in 2009.The increased willingness to cooperate with the United States in law enforcement was exemplified by the high-profile arrest of the film director Roman Polanski in 2009.
In a move orchestrated by prosecutors in Los Angeles and Washington, the authorities in Switzerland arrested Mr. Polanski as he arrived at the Zurich airport, in connection with a 32-year-old sex case. After a year of courtroom wrangling, the authorities decided not to extradite him, in part because of doubts over the conduct of the judge in his original trial.In a move orchestrated by prosecutors in Los Angeles and Washington, the authorities in Switzerland arrested Mr. Polanski as he arrived at the Zurich airport, in connection with a 32-year-old sex case. After a year of courtroom wrangling, the authorities decided not to extradite him, in part because of doubts over the conduct of the judge in his original trial.
Switzerland has also extradited some people wanted for financial fraud by countries like Russia — despite criticism from human rights groups, concerned that they would not receive a fair trial in their homeland. At the request of the United States, Switzerland arrested Yevgeny Adamov, the former head of the Russian atomic energy ministry, in 2005. But after a long tussle between Washington and Moscow, which then also sought his extradition on embezzlement charges, Switzerland ended up sending Mr. Adamov back to Russia to stand trial rather than to the United States. Switzerland has extradited some people wanted for financial fraud by countries like Russia, despite criticism from human rights groups concerned that they would not receive a fair trial in their homeland. At the request of the United States, Switzerland arrested Yevgeny Adamov, the former head of the Russian atomic energy ministry, in 2005. But after a long tussle between Washington and Moscow, which then also sought his extradition on embezzlement charges, Switzerland sent Mr. Adamov back to Russia to stand trial, rather than to the United States.
Le Matin, a Swiss French-language newspaper, said Wednesday that Switzerland was determined to avoid a “second Polanski affair,” noting that the operation was closely coordinated with American authorities. It said Swiss authorities had been traumatized by the Polanski case. Le Matin, a Swiss French-language newspaper, said on Wednesday that Switzerland was determined to avoid a “second Polanski affair,” noting that the FIFA operation was closely coordinated with American authorities. It said Swiss authorities had been “traumatized” by the Polanski case.