Reuters AlertNet Lite - Swiss court rejects Dutch lawsuit in ransom case

Reuters AlertNet Full site

NEWSDESK

Swiss court rejects Dutch lawsuit in ransom case

15 Mar 2007 18:34:52 GMT
Source: Reuters

GENEVA, March 15 (Reuters) - A Swiss court rejected on Thursday a lawsuit by the Netherlands seeking a 770,000 euro reimbursement from Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders) for ransom paid to release its aid worker in Russia.

The Dutch government brought the unusual civil case against MSF-Switzerland, whose Dutch employee Arjan Erkel was kidnapped in Dagestan, in Russia's Caucasus region, in August 2002 and freed 20 months later after a 1 million euro ransom was paid.

The Netherlands had "advanced" the money at the request of MSF with the understanding that it would be repaid, but the humanitarian group did not return the funds, the government's lawyer Luc Hafner said.

"The decision is wrong in law. Swiss principles were not applied properly," he told Reuters.

"The decision is very detrimental to NGOs (non-governmental organisations) because it will stop all possible collaboration with them," he said, stressing the government plans to appeal.

While the full verdict handed by judge Jean Mirimanoff was not available, both sides confirmed that the Netherlands lost its case in a Geneva court.

The judged also denied a request by MSF, which had deposited 230,000 euros at the Dutch embassy in Moscow at the time of the kidnapping, to have that money refunded.

MSF, which had hung a gigantic photo of Erkel outside its downtown Geneva headquarters during his captivity, denies having entered into an agreement with Dutch authorities on repaying the ransom money.

"This was the first time a democratically elected government has sued an international humanitarian organisation to recover money used to pay a ransom," MSF spokesman Aymeric Peguillan said.

"We find it problematic that a government -- especially a government which claims to support humanitarian action -- would go to court with an NGO," he added.

AlertNet news is provided by

Email this article Send comments

Countries

Small country map
© 2004 Europa Technologies Ltd.

Reset map

• Russia profile
· View map

MORE >>

NGO latest

• Christiane Augsburger elected to ICRC
ICRC - Switzerland

• Amputee Cyclist to Trek Around the World to Raise Awareness and Funds for Landmine Survivors
Clear Path International - USA

• Chechnya: Second water station handed over
PHO

MORE >>

Latest news

• Swiss court rejects Dutch lawsuit in ransom case

• UN envoy 'clarifies' Kosovo independence proposal

• British MPs urge scale-up of $3 bln malaria fight

• End of bank probe to smooth N.Korea progress--U.S.

• North Korea preparing to shut reactor--Australia

MORE >>

Last updated:Thu Mar 15 18:36:06 2007