Prominent Liechtenstein Officials Meet To Discuss Money Laundering Fight

by Ulrika Lomas, Tax-News.com, Brussels

23 July 2001

Federal Councillor Ruth Metzler, Vice Head of Government Rita Kieber-Beck, and Interior Minister Alois Ospelt met earlier this month to discuss the fight against money laundering, and the cooperation between the police forces of Liechtenstein, Austria and Switzerland, it was revealed recently.

This meeting followed the launch of a new treaty on inter-state police cooperation, signed by the three countries, which came into force on July 1st. The three ministers are also reported to have discussed the negotiations between Switzerland (with which the principality has traditionally had a very strong tie) and the European Union, and the issue of mutual legal assistance.

Regarding the mutual legal assistance situation in Liechtenstein, a recent report revealed that the principality has already been asked for international legal assistance in 197 cases of suspected fraud, tax evasion and money laundering so far this year, which represents an increase of 33% on last year's figures. Head Prosecutor, Robert Wallner, told the 'Liechtensteiner Vaterland' that the increase was probably due to the introduction of the Legal Assistance Act, which came into force in November last year, and makes the process of providing legal assistance quicker and easier.

However, he did express surprise at the size and rapidity of the increase: 'Naturally we expected an increase, but didn't expect quite so many,' he said. According to the Liectenstein State Prosecution Department, as expected on the basis of previous figures, the majority of the applications for legal assistance came from Switzerland, Germany, and Austria.

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