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Swiss Decline To Reopen Zardari Corruption Probe


The Swiss government has formally decided not to reopen corruption investigations against Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari.

According to the media reports, Swiss prosecutors notified the Pakistani government of the decision in a letter received on February 10.

Senior Law Ministry official Yasmin Abbasey confirmed the reports in an interview with AFP.

The letter came in response to a request in November by Pakistan's government seeking a renewal of a probe into persistent allegations that Zardari stole millions of dollars in state funds and deposited them in Swiss bank accounts controlled by his wife.

Swiss authorities reportedly responded that the statute of limitations in the affair has expired.

The case against Zardari was opened in the 1990s but was halted as a result of a 2007 amnesty.

In 2009, the Pakistani Supreme Court ordered the government to reopen the investigation, sparking a domestic political crisis.

Based on reporting by dpa and AFP

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