Justice

Crime

Five Charged in Violent Burglary at F1 Champion Alain Prost's Swiss Home

French authorities have charged five individuals, including two minors, with organized gang robbery following the violent burglary at the Nyon home of four-time Formula One champion Alain Prost. The suspects were arrested in France after the May incident where luxury watches were stolen and Prost sustained minor injuries.

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Law

Swiss High Court and European Court Uphold Asset Freezes on Russian and Ukrainian Figures

In two separate but related rulings, the Swiss Federal Supreme Court and the European Court of Human Rights have upheld the legality of freezing assets belonging to a Russian oligarch and an ally of former Ukrainian President Yanukovych. These decisions reinforce Switzerland's position on enforcing international sanctions.

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Justice

Clock Ticking on Unsolved Murder of Swiss Aid Worker in Madagascar

Thirty years after Swiss aid worker Walter Arnold was murdered in Madagascar while reportedly uncovering a scandal, the case remains unsolved. With the statute of limitations approaching, the chance for justice is fading, leaving friends and family with unanswered questions.

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Justice

Switzerland's Federal Supreme Court has denied an appeal from a Russian oligarch seeking to have his assets unfrozen. The court upheld the view that he is an influential businessman in an industry generating substantial revenue for the Russian state, justifying the sanctions imposed after the war in Ukraine.

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Justice

The trial has commenced for the teenager accused of a religiously motivated knife attack on an Orthodox Jewish man in Zurich in March 2024. The defendant, who was 15 at the time, declined to answer the judge's questions during the initial hearing, which is being held behind closed doors.

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Crime

Thirty years after Swiss aid worker Walter Arnold was killed shortly after claiming he would expose wrongdoing, the case remains unsolved. As the statute of limitations approaches, his death will likely remain a mystery.

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Justice

A report from the National Commission for the Prevention of Torture warns that severe overcrowding in Swiss prisons is infringing on inmates' fundamental rights, increasing violence, and straining staff. The commission urges a comprehensive strategy to reduce the prison population rather than simply building more cells.

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Legal

Both the prosecution and the defense have filed appeals against the recent verdict in a human trafficking case in the Bernese Oberland, where a family was convicted of exploiting women as cleaners in Gstaad under appalling conditions.

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Environment

Despite its reputation as the 'water castle of Europe', Switzerland is failing to adequately prosecute water-related crimes, a new university research project reveals. Experts point to fragmented regulations and inconsistent enforcement across cantons, allowing those who pollute rivers and lakes with pesticides and other contaminants to often get off too lightly.

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History

In a historic act of rehabilitation, Switzerland has officially repealed the convictions of 466 Swiss citizens who were sentenced for fighting in the French Resistance during World War II, formally correcting a controversial chapter of its past.

The Local Switzerland

Justice

The trial for a teenager accused of critically injuring an Orthodox Jewish man in an anti-Semitic knife attack in Zurich has been set for July 1. Prosecutors allege the youth was radicalized online and had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State.

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Crime

A 15-year-old Swiss national will face trial for attempted murder beginning July 1, accused of stabbing an Orthodox Jewish man in Zurich in an attack motivated by extremism after he allegedly pledged allegiance to the Islamic State.

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Crime

The investigation into the deadly New Year's fire at the Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana has taken a dramatic turn, with prosecutors adding forgery charges against one of the owners and the canton of Valais allocating CHF1.25 million to fund the expanding police and legal efforts.

The Local Switzerland · +2 more

Crans-Montana

The investigation into the deadly Crans-Montana bar fire has seen a municipal employee charged, bringing the total to fourteen. Concurrently, a 26-year-old French woman who was seriously injured has filed a compensation claim in Paris to cover life-altering burns.

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Society

According to new figures from the Federal Statistical Office, Swiss prisons held a record 7,119 inmates at the end of January. While the absolute number is the highest since records began in 1988, the incarceration rate relative to the country's growing population remains lower than its peak a decade ago.

Le News

Justice

Following a public revelation about a relationship between two of its members, Switzerland's Federal Court has formally declared that amorous relationships between court judges are contrary to judicial customs. An external panel will now investigate the specific case.

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Justice

The number of detainees in Swiss prisons reached an all-time high of 7,119 at the start of 2026, leading to a nationwide occupancy rate of 97% and raising questions about the justice system and facility management.

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Justice

The Swiss Federal Criminal Court has dropped its case against Gulnara Karimova, daughter of Uzbekistan's former president, as she is unable to leave her home country. However, the related money laundering proceedings against bank Lombard Odier and a former manager will go ahead.

The Local Switzerland · +1 more

Corporate Crime

Cement manufacturer Lafarge, owned by Swiss giant Holcim, and its former executives have appealed their convictions for financing terrorism. A Paris court had found them guilty of paying millions to jihadist groups in Syria to keep a plant operational.

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