When several Swiss business leaders presented US President Donald Trump with an exclusive Rolex watch and gold bars, they probably didn’t think they could be… Violating anti-bribery laws dullness. Now two Swiss lawmakers have asked the prosecutor’s office … He examined whether these gifts constitute a crime, although a source close to the delegation confirms that they adhered to the legislation of the two countries, according to Reuters news agency.
The businessmen, including top leaders of shipping company MSC, watchmaker Rolex and luxury brand Richemont, presented these gifts to the president at a meeting at the beginning of November. A few days later, Switzerland reached a framework agreement with the United States Reducing customs duties from 39% to 15% About European country products.
“The gifts were delivered to the Presidential Library on behalf of the group that attended the meeting. In full compliance with US and Swiss lawsA person close to the business delegation told Reuters, adding that the gifts were approved by the White House Ethics Council.
However, Rafael Mahaim and Greta Gysin, both Green Party MPs, stated in a letter to the Attorney General that the legality of the gifts It had to be evaluated by the judicial system.
«The end does not justify all means“Especially when respect for important provisions of our legal system is at stake,” they wrote in the letter in which they asked the state prosecutor to determine whether the gifts violated Swiss penal law.
According to Swiss law, any person He can report a crime to a criminal jurisdictionwhich then decides whether to start the process or not. It is not clear whether the prosecutor will open a procedure. Giving a foreign public official an “undue advantage” to influence a decision could result in… Up to five years in prison or a fine.