Swiss newspaper accuses former Yemeni President of embezzling tens of billions of dollars during his rule
SANAA, Feb. 10 (YPA) – The judicial authorities in Switzerland opened an investigation into the suspected embezzlement of tens of billions of dollars by former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh during years of his rule.
The newspaper “Switzerland” revealed the Swiss media portal that provides information and the latest developments related to Switzerland in the fields of direct democracy, education, science and business on Friday, accused Saleh of involvement in a money laundering operation in 2011 through his wives, children and one of his grandchildren.
A report, prepared by “Farrah Bells”, confirmed that UBS Bank allowed mysterious Yemeni clients in the aftermath of the 2011 revolution against the Saleh regime to transfer $65 million to Singapore, which prompted the Federal Authority to Monitor Financial Markets (known as “FINMA”) to open an investigation against the bank in 2017, for failing to inform the MROS Liaison Office.
The report indicated that the Federal Court (TF) issued a decision on May 13, 2020, requesting the Public Prosecution of the Confederation (MPC) to open an investigation against unknown persons on charges of serious money laundering, related to the balance of former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh and Swiss UBS Bank.
The report confirmed that the bank submitted the documents to the Swiss Federal Court in July 2021 through a password-protected data broker and asked to seal them. It showed “Saleh” accounts at UBS Bank during the period from early 2009 to the end of 2011.
According to the newspaper, the Financial Department, which acted on the basis of a criminal complaint from Fenma on May 18, 2017, applied to the Federal Criminal Court to cancel the sealing of the documents, which was subsequently done.
It indicated that the investigations included 25 people related to Saleh among the clients who have accounts in the bank, and it was concluded that Saleh and his family members were involved through 19 financial transfers that took place in 2011, each transfer in the amount of 300 thousand dollars, with a total of 65 million dollars. The transfer of the money from the Swiss bank UBS to Ali Saleh’s two wives, all his children, with one grandson, to a bank in Singapore.
The report added that Saleh also transferred $300,000 to each of his two wives and $65 million to one of his sons and another person who is still unknown.
Investigations also revealed Saleh gave $10 million as a gift to the bank manager, and Saleh’s special advisor at the bank.
A United Nations report published on February 26, 2015 revealed that Ali Abdullah Saleh, the former Yemeni president, had amassed a fortune of up to $60 billion through corruption during the 33 years he ruled Yemen.
AA