Foreign Illicit Assets Act (FIAA)
English is not an official language of the Swiss Confederation. This translation is provided for information purposes only and has no legal force.
Art. 17 General principle
The restitution of assets is made in pursuit of the following objectives: a. to improve the living conditions of the inhabitants of the country of origin; or b. to strengthen the rule of law in the country of origin and thus to contribute to the fight against impunity.
Art. 18 Procedure
1 The restitution of confiscated assets is made through the financing of programmes of public interest. 2 The Federal Council may conclude agreements governing the restitution of assets. 3 Such agreements may cover, in particular: a. the type of programmes of public interest to be funded by the returned assets; b. the way in which the returned assets are to be used; c. the parties to be included in the restitution process; d. control and monitoring of the use made of the returned assets. 4 In the absence of an agreement with the country of origin, the Federal Council shall determine the process of restitution. It may, in particular, return confiscated assets via international or national organisations, and provide for the supervision of the FDFA. 5 To the extent possible, it shall include non-governmental organisations in the restitution process.
Art. 19 Procedural costs
1 A lump-sum amount not exceeding 2.5% of the value of the confiscated assets may be deducted by the Confederation or to the cantons to cover costs incurred in proceedings for the freezing, confiscation and restitution of the assets, and in implementation of support measures. 2 The Federal Council shall determine on a case-by-case basis the amount to be deducted and the details of any sharing arrangements between the Confederation and the cantons concerned, in consultation with the latter.