Under-fire Swiss attoey general offers to step down

Swiss Attoey General Michael Lauber - facing impeachment proceedings over his handling of a FIFA corruption probe - has offered his resignation following a court decision that criticised his conduct.

This content was published on July 24, 2020 - 11:50 July 24, 2020 - 11:50

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Lauber's move comes after a federal court in Switzerland said on Friday that Lauber had committed several breaches of his official duties and lied to investigators while his office examined alleged corruption surrounding soccer goveing body FIFA.

Lauber has again denied that he was lying.

The Federal Administrative Court (FAC) said that Lauber made "implausible" statements about an undisclosed meeting with FIFA President Gianni Infantino in June 2017. It added that Lauber "intentionally made a false statement" to the watchdog investigating his conduct and knowingly concealed the meeting.

"Overall, the court finds that Attoey General Lauber committed several breaches of official duty," the court said.

The ruling was in response to Lauber's appeal against being disciplined in March for misconduct over the FIFA affair.  Here, a federal oversight panel deducted 8% of Lauber's near-$300,000 (CHF278,000) yearly salary for "breach of duty".

Personal statement

"In the interests of the institutions I offer my resignation," Lauber said in personal statement released by the Office of the Attoey General on Friday. saying he was conceed about the reputation of the Office of the Attoey General.

Lauber again insisted that he had not lied, as he has stated previously. "However if they [the court] do not believe me as attoey general, then the Office of the Attoey General will be harmed," he said.

Attoey general since 2012, Lauber was already facing impeachment proceedings, while a special prosecutor is reviewing criminal complaints against him and Infantino, who has denied any wrongdoing.

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