Switzerland halts ‘mutual legal assistance’ with Egypt in Mubarak family funds case

Swiss judicial authorities have decided to halt mutual legal assistance to the Egyptian government in the investigations into the funds of former President Hosni Mubarak, his family and others, as the investigations have not yielded any tangible results, according to a statement issued by the Swiss Embassy in Cairo on Wednesday.The statement also said that the Egyptian attorney general’s office was informed of this decision in late August distinguishing between the conclusion of mutual assistance and the continuation of the investigation, as mutual legal assistance is only one “part of the investigation”, and that no final decisions regarding the funds have been taken.Judicial cooperation between Egypt and Switzerland began after Mubarak was deposed in February 2011. However, the Swiss embassy asserts that “despite this cooperation, Swiss judicial authorities had to conclude that the legal requirements were not met, particularly with regard to the link between the alleged crimes and Switzerland”.