Graubünden auctions luxury apartment to money laundering suspects
In 2019, the canton of Graubünden auctioned a luxury apartment to an internationally sought-after Venezuelan for six million francs. Investigations are now underway.
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the essentials in brief
- In 2019, the “Chesa a’l lej” apartment in St. Moritz GR was foreclosed on.
- She bought an international Venezuelan who was being prosecuted on suspicion of money laundering.
- the federal prosecutor’s office has now started investigations.
In 2019, the “Chesa a’l lej” with a view of the mountains and the lake changed from St. Moritz for six million francs the owner. hat bought the exclusive property the Venezuelan Nervis Villalobos – despite serious suspicions of corruption and money laundering.
Villalobos is Venezuela’s former deputy energy minister and has a lot on his plate: he is said to have deprived the crisis-ridden country of many millions through dubious deals. Criminal proceedings against him are therefore ongoing in the USA, Spain, Andorra, Venezuela and Switzerland. Since no conviction is known to date, the presumption of innocence applies.
How did the purchase of the luxury apartment in the Engadin come about? She was part of the bankruptcy estate of a failed real estate company, as reported by the “Tages-Anzeiger”. In July 2019, the debt enforcement and bankruptcy office of the Maloja region carried out a foreclosure auction. The Villalobos lawyers offered the highest sum – and grounds the apartment.
The authorities are there hands tied been: “It is our duty by law to achieve the greatest possible proceeds for objects from the bankruptcy estate. This is in the interest of the creditors who have the money, »says Andrea Fanconi, head of the debt enforcement and bankruptcy office, to the newspaper.
investigations are ongoing
For Martin Hilti from International Transparency the case is an example of a major problem in Switzerland: “The real estate market is a huge gateway for money laundering,” he says. “The main players in real estate transactions must be obliged to clarify the origin of the funds.”
Does Switzerland have to do more against money laundering?
53%
Yes, because Switzerland’s reputation is secure.
1
Yes, because Switzerland’s reputation is secure.
47%
No, if it’s not done in Switzerland, then in another country.
2
No, if it’s not done in Switzerland, then in another country.
In the meantime, the public prosecutors of Geneva and Zurich as well as the federal prosecutor investigation initiated. A year after sale obtained die federal prosecutor a land register block on the apartment. In addition, more than 140 million francs on accounts of Villalobos and his children at eight Swiss banks frozen.
There are “serious and concrete indications” that the assets come from crimes committed abroad and were won in this country.