Billionaire Beny Steinmetz is expected to meet with the office of Geneva’s public prosecutor in the city within the next four weeks, reports "Bloomberg." A person who was briefed on the matter, and asked not to be identified as the investigation is confidential, was cited as a source by "Bloomberg." Swiss Prosecutor’s office spokesman Henri Della Casa declined to comment on the planned interview.
Steinmetz has offered to collaborate with Swiss authorities and is cooperating fully, his lawyer Marc Bonnant said in an e-mailed statement to "Bloomberg."
Swiss police reportedly raided Steinmetz's Geneva home earlier this month. The raid was said to be ordered by Geneva’s public prosecutor following a request by the Guinea government. No documents were taken away, the source said.
Steinmetz, 57, has a net worth of $7.4 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. BSG Resources Ltd., his mining company, owns a 51% stake in the Simandou iron ore deposit in Guinea. The West African country is reviewing mining licenses including Simandou’s.
In April, a US grand jury investigation began into claims that bribes were paid by BSG Resources for mining rights in Guinea.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on September 15, 2013
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