Swiss CEOs accused of bribing Trump with Rolex clock and bar of gold

While many breathed a sigh of relief when the US announced it would reduce import tariffs on Switzerland, politicians from two Swiss political parties have filed criminal charges against top Swiss business leaders involved in a meeting with Donald Trump.

Swiss CEOs and business leaders accused of bribery

“A gold bar with an inscription and a Rolex desk clock": these were the gifts that "Team Switzerland” presented to US President Donald Trump, reports Watson. The gift-giving in question allegedly took place a week before it was announced that the US would reduce tariffs on imports from Switzerland from 39 percent to 15 percent.

Six representatives from well-known Swiss companies met with Trump to discuss the tariffs. Members of the Young Socialists, JUSO, and the Green Party have since filed criminal complaints with the Federal Prosecutor’s Office against the business leaders for alleged bribery, continues Watson.

The businessmen allegedly involved in the meeting with Trump were Daniel Jaeggi (Mercuria), Alfred Gantner (Partners Group), Johann Rupert (Richemont), Jean-Frederic Dufour (Rolex) and Marwan Shakarchi (MKS PAMP).

Calls for transparency about US-Switzerland negotiations

According to the complaint filed by Green Party politicians, “The credibility of our institutions, respect for the rule of law and Switzerland’s international reputation are at stake,” reports RTS. The JUSO complaint, reported by Watson, said that "It is absurd that billionaires sit in the Oval Office, in the place where elected democratic representatives should actually be sitting.”

Transparency Switzerland, an organisation that works to fight corruption, has called for transparency about the negotiations, as well as “clear rules for companies" giving gifts to foreign officials.

Lawyer Stefan Lenz clarified that “what the accused did was unethical, but probably not punishable by law,” and doubted that the complaint of bribery of public officials would apply. “A bribery agreement and a clear exchange of value” need to be proved, Lenz continued.