Swiss Indict 3 in Nuclear Smuggling Case

Posted December 13th, 2011 at 8:50 am (UTC-5)
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Swiss prosecutors have charged three people with breaking arms export laws to help smuggle nuclear weapon technology to Libya. The activity occurred under the Gadhafi regime.

Marco and Urs Tinner and their father Friedrich were formally indicted Tuesday after a nearly decade-long investigation.

The three men are suspected of providing technology to the nuclear smuggling network of Abdul Qadeer Khan, the architect of Pakistan's nuclear weapons program.

Prosecutors said the Tinners have agreed to accepted a plea bargain that will allow a shortened legal procedure. The agreement is expected to prevent politically sensitive evidence from being discussed during the court proceedings.

In 2007, the Swiss government ordered evidence in the case destroyed, citing national security concerns and to keep nuclear weapons plans from falling into hostile hands.

Some Swiss press reports have said the Tinners were recruited by the CIA to help keep Libya from gaining the technology for a nuclear weapons program.