Swiss MP wants Sabah CM's assets frozen

A Swiss MP has asked his government to freeze assets in the country held by Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman and other “Malaysian potentates”, according to Bruno Manser Fund (BMF).

The Swiss-based NGO reported last Thursday that social democrat MP Carlo Sommaruga raised the issue in Swiss Parliament that day, also naming Sarawak Chief Minister Taib Mahmud and his family as parties whose Swiss assets should be frozen.

The Geneva MP reportedly filed a number of questions in the House to shed more light on the money laundering allegations linked to Switzerland's largest bank UBS and Musa (right).

Amongst them, Sommaruga asked the government to reveal the nature of the criminal charges being investigated and the assistance being given to Hong Kong authorities.

He also asked if Malaysian authorities had contacted the Swiss government and if assistance would be provided to Malaysia.

Sommaruga also wanted to know “what safeguards within the envisaged Free Trade Agreement between EFTA, the European Free Trade Association, and Malaysia would prevent Malaysian corruption proceeds from flowing to Switzerland” reported BMF.

This follow a report last month that Swiss authorities had cooperated with Hong Kong to investigate alleged money laundering involving over USD90 million, said to be linked to timber kickbacks.

This and other issues centred on the CM was widely reported by whistleblower website Sarawak Report.

Musa has since denied the reports calling them “recycled allegations” while UBS has refused to comment.