Benazir Bhutto appears before Swiss court in money probe

Society Pakistan & World Affairs
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She and her husband have brought shame upon the great name of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.

Bhutto appears before Swiss court in money probe

GENEVA - Pakistan’s former prime minister, Benazir Bhutto, relaunched her defence against Swiss charges of money laundering on Monday, appearing in a Geneva court and saying the accusations were politically motivated. Bhutto told journalists outside the courthouse, where she was due to deliver evidence to an investigating judge, that she was the target of a vendetta by her political foes in Pakistan. ”It pains me that they are using the judicial authorities here to score certain political points back home in Pakistan,” she said, adding that she was confident of being cleared.

The case relates to accusations dating back to the 1990s that Bhutto and her husband, Asif Ali Zardari, accepted commissions for awarding contracts to two Swiss companies to do business in Pakistan. Until now, Bhutto has delayed the judge’s request to appear to answer questions, citing ailing health. The politically charged case began around eight years ago and judicial authorities have blocked some $13 million in Swiss bank accounts held by companies in connection with the case. Bhutto’s lawyer, Alec Reymond, said the judge would decide after Monday’s testimony how to proceed with the hearings. “There are more witnesses to be interviewed so there will be one or more meetings coming,” Reymond told reporters.

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Re: Benazir Bhutto appears before Swiss court in money probe

trying to get pakistan bombed by americans in not politically motivated the silly hoe. She can talk grabidge all day. Come home to Pakistan and face the charges. She swindled the country knows it and now looking for excuses. Her horses in england where being fed meals worth hundreds of pounds a sitting, caviar and all the rest of it thanks to tax payers in Pakistan.

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Re: Benazir Bhutto appears before Swiss court in money probe

She and the PPP could have achieved so much for Pakistan when she first became Prime Minister in 1988, and fulfilled the vision of ZAB. But she was so power hungry, and also could not see past that thief of a husband of her’s, who probably had some involvement in the death of Murtaza as well.

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Re: Benazir Bhutto appears before Swiss court in money probe

she's a fruit cake

Musharraf to visit Saudi Arabia to discuss Sharif's return.
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Re: Benazir Bhutto appears before Swiss court in money probe

Does anyone actually take notice of her. She was on news today with one reporter following her around. Recently she came to Bradford in UK. Her venue for a lecture was a medium size resturant (Anams) which was half empty people only came for free food. No one seems to take her serioulsy. Is that the same case in Pakistan?

AQ??????
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Re: Benazir Bhutto appears before Swiss court in money probe

RD, wats your take on this, its the army's fault right lol?

^^^ Ghair-Multi Peepaal ^^^
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Re: Benazir Bhutto appears before Swiss court in money probe

Benazir tells court she was unaware of Swiss funds

ISLAMABAD, Sept 21: Former prime minister Benazir Bhutto told a court in the Swiss capital that she was unaware of funds held in Swiss banks in the name of offshore companies, her husband and other relatives, Pakistan Television (PTV) reported on Wednesday.

Ms Bhutto was speaking at the hearing of a money-laundering case by a Swiss examining magistrate. She was asked about funds allegedly held in Swiss banks in the name of offshore companies beneficially owned by Begum Nusrat Bhutto, Asif Ali Zardari and her former brother-in-law when she was prime minister.

In reply to these questions, Ms Bhutto said that she wasn’t aware of the facts and she had nothing to do with her mother or husband or any other relative’s own businesses, according to PTV.

Ms Bhutto and Jens Schlegelmilch attended the hearing but Mr Zardari who failed to turn up submitted a medical certificate through his lawyer asking to be excused. The magistrate rejected his plea.

To a question about a ledger written by Schlegelmilch about sharing of 50 per cent to Asif Zardari and 50 per cent to herself in relation with off-shore company Bomer Finance, she said the writer of this [Schlegelmilch] would be more qualified to answer the question.

Schlegelmilch in particular mentioned having bought a piece of jewellery in London for Ms Bhutto with funds deposited in a Swiss account of one of the offshore companies belonging to Mr Zardari.

Ms Bhutto confirmed that Jens Schlegelmilch had informed her about a piece of jewellery at her disposal but she had refused it.

She said she had discussed the matter with her mother who told her that the gift was inappropriate, the PTV report said.—PPI

ping Phoenix51
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Re: Benazir Bhutto appears before Swiss court in money probe

Benazir dissociates herself from family business

By Zulfiqar Ghuman

ISLAMABAD: While testifying to an examining magistrate in Geneva in a money laundering case, former prime minister Benazir Bhutto disassociated herself from the businesses of her family including her husband, mother and brother-in-law, according to official sources.

Benazir and her alleged agent Jens Schlegelmilch had recorded their statements before the examining magistrate, Geneva Attorney General Daniel Zappelli and counsels for the Government of Pakistan on September 19.

Benazir, her husband Asif Ali Zaradari and Jens Schlegelmilch had been indicted in the SGS money laundering scandal and given six-month suspended jail. Zaradri did not appear before the court, pleading that he had health problems, but the magistrate rejected the excuse, the officials said.

“Benazir looked very emotional throughout the hearing that lasted for over eight hours and tried to politicise the case, accusing the military of ousting her from power and registering cases against her with political motives,” the officials said, adding that nearly 4.35 million pounds had been shifted to London from offshore companies for the purchase of the Surrey Palace.

About the money deposited in Swiss banks in the names of Nusrat Bhutto, Zardari and Nasir Hussain, Benazir said she was unaware of the bank accounts and had nothing to do with her family members’ business. She did not comment on the statement that the offshore companies received millions of dollars in “commissions” for the award of SGS COTECNA pre-shipment inspection contracts. She denied involvement in the contracts.

Schlegelmilch had signed an agreement, saying that assets of the Bomer Finance Company would be equally divided between Zardari and Benazir families after the former’s death. Benazir denied any knowledge of the document, saying any information on the document should be sought from Schlegelmilch.

Schlegelmilch said a company run by Zardari had paid for jewellery costing £120,000 for Benazir, but she refused to accept it. Asked why she had refused to accept the gift, Benazir said her mother had told her that the gift was “inappropriate”. She also said that it was her personal affair to accept or reject any gift.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_22-9-2005_pg7_2

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Re: Benazir Bhutto appears before Swiss court in money probe

BB making excuses left, right and centre.

Full MooooooooooN partayyyyyyy