Zurich
The trial of Gulnara Karimova, daughter of a former Uzbek president, and Swiss private bank Lombard Odier on money laundering charges began on Monday in Switzerland’s Federal Criminal Court, in a case dating back two decades. Karimova is accused of taking bribes and running a criminal organisation known as The Office that allegedly channelled hundreds of millions of dollars to accounts in Switzerland between 2005 and 2013. Geneva-based Lombard Odier and an ex-employee of the bank are suspected of having played a decisive role in enabling the concealment of proceeds of Karimova’s alleged criminal activity. Karimova, a daughter of the late Islam Karimov, who was president for 25 years, is in prison in Uzbekistan. She and Lombard Odier have denied any wrongdoing.