Switzerland, Qatar increase mutual assistance in criminal probes

Switzerland and Qatar will step up cooperation in criminal investigations under a new accord to expedite mutual legal assistance, the Swiss government said today.

After a memorandum of understanding was signed this week, central authorities of both states will deal with each other directly in drafting requests for assistance, the Federal Office of Justice (FOJ) said.

“These efforts are also in the interests of a clean Swiss financial centre,” it said in a statement.

A FOJ spokesman said Qatar had taken the initiative for the accord.

Qatar has previously hired a Swiss law firm to sue the countries imposing a siege on the Gulf State.

Read: Qatar hires Swiss law firm to sue blockade states