Swiss Milita Article 3 PDF
Preview Swiss Milita Article 3
http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/wire/sns-ap-switzerland-secret- army0214feb14,0,2918025.story?coll=sns-ap-world-headlines Swiss Man Sentenced in Secret Army Case By Associated Press February 14, 2003, 3:06 PM EST BERN, Switzerland -- A former military accountant convicted in Switzerland's biggest ever swindle of a government department was sentenced to six years in prison Friday. Dino Bellasi, who worked for the Defense Ministry, was convicted of fraud, making false accusations, forgery, money laundering and possession of banned weapons. He also was ordered to repay $4.4 million. Bellasi embezzled $6.3 million in the form of advances to cover the costs of fictitious army exercises. Investigators have been able to trace only $4.8 million. The fraud came to light after Bellasi continued to submit claims even after he left his job in November 1998. After his arrest in August 1999, Bellasi claimed he diverted the funds over a five-year period to finance, equip and train a secret army with the knowledge of senior intelligence officials. Peter Regli, the head of Switzerland's intelligence service, was among several officials suspended because of Bellasi's allegations. Bellasi later withdrew his claims, saying he made them up to protect himself. Regli was cleared of any responsibility in the swindle but took early retirement. Investigators found an arsenal of 220 weapons and thousands of rounds of ammunition belonging to Bellasi. They also discovered he had organized secret maneuvers at least 11 times with small groups of soldiers on an army training ground deep in the Alps, using weapons from his cache. Copyright © 2003, The Associated Press
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