Swiss money laundering trial of Uzbekistan's Karimova and Lombard Odier begins
Overview of the Swiss Money Laundering Case
Background of the Trial
ZURICH, April 27 (Reuters) - The trial of Gulnara Karimova, daughter of a former Uzbek president, and Swiss private bank Lombard Odier on money laundering charges began on Monday in Switzerland's Federal Criminal Court, in a case dating back two decades.
Allegations Against Gulnara Karimova
Karimova is accused of taking bribes and running a criminal organisation known as "The Office" that allegedly channelled hundreds of millions of dollars to accounts in Switzerland between 2005 and 2013.
Role of Lombard Odier Bank
Geneva-based Lombard Odier and an ex-employee of the bank are suspected of having enabled the concealment of proceeds of Karimova's alleged criminal activity.
Responses from the Accused
Denials from Karimova and Lombard Odier
Karimova, a daughter of the late Islam Karimov, who was president for 25 years, is in prison in Uzbekistan. She and Lombard Odier have denied any wrongdoing.
Lombard Odier's Statement
Lombard Odier said in a statement that the case began after it had itself reported suspicions on the matter to Swiss authorities in 2012.
Details of the Charges
It said that the charges against it pertain to alleged organisational shortcomings in relation to the effective prevention of money laundering.
Trial Proceedings and Timeline
Duration and Verdict Expectations
The Swiss court declined to provide an estimate of how long the trial would last or when the verdict would be.
For its part, Lombard Odier said the hearings were expected to continue until the end of May, with a verdict likely to be reached in the following months.
(Reporting by Ariane Luthi; Editing by Alexander Smith and Tomasz Janowski)
