Swiss lawmakers to vote on draft law that would give $4.6 million to aid agencies in Haiti

Swiss MPs to vote on new ex-dictator cash law

GENEVA — The Swiss government says a draft law that would allow aid agencies in Haiti to receive at least $4.6 million claimed by the family of Haiti’s ex-dictator Jean-Claude “Baby Doc” Duvalier is ready for approval by lawmakers.

The government said Wednesday the draft law on the restitution of assets held in Swiss banks for deposed dictators will be put to parliament after winning widespread support.

It would make it easier for such assets to be repatriated to national governments.

The Swiss government acted after the top Swiss court ruled Jan. 12, right before Haiti’s devastating earthquake, that the $4.6 million must be returned to Duvalier’s family because the statute of limitations on any Duvalier clan crimes would have expired in 2001.