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Six Fifa executives arrested in Switzerland

webfact

By webfact
in World News

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webfact Grand Master Member

webfact

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Posted

CORRUPTION CHARGE
Six Fifa executives arrested in Switzerland
Agencies

BANGKOK: -- Six Fifa officials arrested in Switzerland for allegedly getting and paying millions in bribes.

They face extradition to the US following a three-year FBI investigation

The charges reportedly include wire fraud, racketeering and money laundering.

More than a dozen policemen arrived at a five-star hotel in the Swiss capital, while the leaders were gathering for their annual meeting.

One officer reportedly carried bags containing medication and money.

Journalist Michael S. Schmidt tweeted: "FIFA execs not being led out in handcuffs. Very peaceful. Hotel staff meanwhile is freaking out."

The organisation has been plagued by allegations of bribery for decades.

A law enforcement official was quoted as saying: "We’re struck by just how long this went on for and how it touched nearly every part of what FIFA did.

"It just seemed to permeate every element of the federation and was just their way of doing business.

"It seems like this corruption was institutionalised."

FIFA is holding a presidential election on Friday, when Sepp Blatter has been widely tipped to stay in the job.

Blatter is not understood to be one of the officials charged.

The US attorney general Loretta Lynch is due to hold a news conference later today.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Six-Fifa-executives-including-Worawi-arrested-in-S-30261040.html

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-- The Nation 2015-05-27

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Steely Dan Ruby Member

Steely Dan

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Well I've not been so shocked since Jimmy Saville was found out to be a prolific kiddie fiddler. Glad the FBI are going to clean up soccer for us all. Let's hope Qatar winning the 2022 World cup nomination is investigated too.

Edited by Steely Dan
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Basil B Ruby Member

Basil B

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Glade this vipers nest is finally being tackled...

They make Thai politicians look like saints.whistling.gif

Only 6??? Wonder if any Tabloid has pictures of Sepp sneaking out the back door???

Edited by Basil B
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Basil B Ruby Member

Basil B

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The Swiss Federal Office of Justice (FOJ) said in a statement on Wednesday that US authorities suspected the officials of receiving $100m worth of bribes since the early 1990s. The crimes were agreed to and prepared in the US via US bank accounts, it adds.

Only $100m USD's what about all the UK£'s, Euros, Russian Roubles, and Qatar Riyals???

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whatawonderfulday Advanced Member

whatawonderfulday

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This isn't the first time Worawi has been investigated: http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/15437574

Agree with a post above, let's hope they clean up FIFA once and for all as it is long overdue. Then they can make a start on the Olympic

Think this is not yet confirmed that the Thai FIFA president is one of them. Considering the amount involved, US $ 100 million, and there appears to be 6 persons involved, I would be surprised if a Thai FIFA president would consider taking bribes as poultry as around 16 million given Thais anti corruption policies since 1932

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ezzra Star Member

ezzra

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Is there any one there who's not corrupt? for god sake, that all we hear lately, those people

in high places have no shame or decency anymore, greed and lust are now paramount on

people's minds now... what is this carppy world is becoming too?....

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Chicog Star Member

Chicog

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Hmmm, several senior execs arrested just before the election of the next president of the federation. Coincidental timing or political strategy ?

No, just that they all happened to be in Switzerland at the same time.

Duh.

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Jonathan Fairfield Star Member

Jonathan Fairfield

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This isn't the first time Worawi has been investigated: http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/15437574

Agree with a post above, let's hope they clean up FIFA once and for all as it is long overdue. Then they can make a start on the Olympic

Think this is not yet confirmed that the Thai FIFA president is one of them. Considering the amount involved, US $ 100 million, and there appears to be 6 persons involved, I would be surprised if a Thai FIFA president would consider taking bribes as poultry as around 16 million given Thais anti corruption policies since 1932

Agreed.

It seems Mr Worawi is not caught up in this and earlier reports of his involvement were incorrect.

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Jonathan Fairfield Star Member

Jonathan Fairfield

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Here's the official statement from The Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland

The Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland seizes documents at FIFA

Bern, 27.05.2015 - The Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland (OAG) has opened criminal proceedings against persons unknown on suspicion of criminal mismanagement and of money laundering in connection with the allocation of the 2018 and 2022 Football World Cups. In the course of said proceedings, electronic data and documents were seized today at FIFA’s head office in Zurich.
Today, on Wednesday 27 May 2015, the OAG has seized data and documents stored in IT systems at the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) as part of a so-called “collection of evidence on cooperative basis”. That means that the party in possession of the data – in this case, FIFA – delivers the requested data to law enforcement authorities, or gives assistance in securing the data, thus facilitating an efficient and swift procedure. The collection of relevant bank documents had already been ordered beforehand at various financial institutes in Switzerland. The files seized today and the collected bank documents will serve criminal proceedings both in Switzerland and abroad.
In the Swiss criminal proceedings, opened by the OAG on 10 March 2015, it is suspected that irregularities occurred in the allocation of the FIFA World Cups of 2018 and 2022. The corresponding unjust enrichment is suspected to have taken place at least partly in Switzerland. Furthermore, the head office of the damaged party, FIFA, is in Switzerland. For these reasons, investigations are being carried out on the suspicion of criminal mismanagement (Article 158 under 1, Section 3 Swiss Criminal Code / SCC). There are also suspicions of money laundering through Swiss bank accounts (Article 305bis, SCC). Subsequently to today’s seizure of files, the OAG and the Swiss Federal Criminal Police will be questioning 10 persons who took part in voting on the allocation of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups as members of the Executive Committee in 2010. These persons should be questioned as persons providing information.
For reasons of criminal procedure (principle of proportionality), the procedure coordinated with the requested acts of the U.S. authorities was designed in such a way as to allow the procurement of any criminally relevant data in an effective manner, and to avoid any possible collusion. These measures were carried out simultaneously as a large number of persons involved in allocating the World Cups were currently in Zurich. These legal actions concern two criminal procedures conducted separately by the OAG and the US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York. The Swiss and US law enforcement authorities are not conducting any joint investigations, but are coordinating their respective criminal proceedings.
On 18 November 2014, FIFA had filed criminal charges against persons unknown with the OAG. Therefore, the Swiss proceeding is aimed at persons unknown, with FIFA as the injured party. With this procedure, the OAG is contributing to the struggle against corrupt behaviour and money laundering.
Note to media representatives:
In connection with irregularities surrounding football tournaments, two separate proceedings must be distinguished:
The Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland (OAG) is conducting a Swiss criminal investigation regarding the allocation of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. For inquiries regarding this Swiss criminal investigation, please contact the OAG.
In separate proceedings, and independently of the Swiss criminal investigation of the OAG, the US Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York is conducting a criminal investigation into the allocation of media, marketing and sponsoring rights for football tournaments carried out in the United States and Latin America. The Federal Office of Justice (FOJ) supports this criminal investigation as part of international legal assistance. Today, on Wednesday 27 May 2015, football officials and suspected bribers have been arrested in Zurich and placed in detention pending extradition as part of this investigation, and by order of the FOJ.
The requests for extradition and legal assistance shall be decided upon by the FOJ, and not by the Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland. For inquiries regarding these matters, please contact the FOJ as the appropriate authority (Folco Galli, Federal Office of Justice FOJ,
+41 58 462 77 88, [email protected]).
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