SWISS lawmakers today voted against repatriating CHF104 million (RM430 million) allegedly stolen from state investor 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).

Social Democratic Party of Switzerland international secretary Peter Hug said the National Council has rejected the motion from MP Carlo Sommaruga.

SDP said 53 voted in favour while 138 votes against returning the funds. There were no abstention.

“The fight for more justice and solidarity and less corruption and illicit financial flows goes on,” he said in an email to The Malaysian Insight.

Lawmakers at the national council, the lower house of the Swiss federal assembly, voted on the matter today.

Swiss Finance Minister Ueli Maurer earlier said funds from 1MDB are being held in the Swiss federal treasury as there are no claimants.

Motion 17.3547, entitled Repatriation of confiscated corruption funds to the robbed populations, was tabled by Sommaruga. 

The motion stated “unlawfully obtained profits” could be returned, “at least in part”, in accordance with Federal Act on the Freezing and Restitution of Illicit Assets held by Politically Exposed Persons (FIAA).

Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4) executive director Cynthia Gabriel said she was disappointed. 

“We tried to lobby the MPs, but Swiss Law makes it difficult for such a motion to go through. 

“We understand several MPs are seeking amendments to FIAA,” she said. 

Gabriel said rejection of the motion changes nothing in terms of the ongoing probe by the attorney-general and the appeals at the Federal Court. 

“There are three separate processes going on. If the attorney-general decides to file criminal proceedings that will take precedence,” she said. 

Gabriel also extended her gratitude to Sommruga and hopes to work with him in the future. 

“We thank him for his foresight and diligence in pursuing justice and accountable return of assets around illicit financial flows,” she said. 

Yesterday, 1MDB said the money held by the Swiss federal treasury does not belong to them and is a fine imposed on banks which allegedly breached Swiss laws.

The state investor had said the amount in question cannot be claimed by the firm nor by the Malaysian government, as the money does not belong to 1MDB. – March 15, 2018.