October 17, 2014
No. 228
The Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland recently ruled that the bank accounts of Taiwan arms dealer Andrew Wang would remain frozen, as per a request made by the Republic of China for legal assistance from the Swiss Federal Department of Justice and Police (FDJP). The ruling is final.
The Swiss Federal Supreme Court stated in its verdict that the FDJP had previously provided legal assistance to Taiwan concerning illegal commissions paid out in Taiwan’s 1991 procurement of Lafayette-class frigates from France, which led to the Taiwan Supreme Court decision in April 2014 to confiscate the illicit gains. The Swiss court also took into consideration that the case was highly complicated, involving widely known individuals and a main perpetrator—Andrew Wang—who is still at large. As such, although Wang’s accounts had been frozen for a prolonged period of time and given that its ruling would not affect the provision of judicial assistance, the Swiss Federal Supreme Court turned down Wang’s appeal against the FDJP’s decision to freeze his accounts. It also ruled that Wang would be liable for court costs of 10,000 Swiss francs.
Through mutual legal assistance efforts with Switzerland, the ROC government had earlier gained the FDJP’s agreement to freeze Wang’s Swiss accounts. Wang had responded by filing an appeal, but the Swiss Federal Supreme Court upheld the FDJP’s decision. This verdict upholds justice and highlights the international commitment to combating crime.
The ROC government appreciates the support from the Swiss Federal Supreme Court in the FDJP’s decision to provide legal assistance to Taiwan. The ROC Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Justice, and related prosecutors’ offices will continue to work with Swiss authorities to retrieve the funds frozen in Wang’s Swiss accounts such that the nation’s rights and interests may be protected. (E)