Illicit funds seized in Switzerland are not to be returned to a country’s government but to its people, a Swiss lawmaker has clarified.

In an email correspondence, Geneva MP Carlo Sommaruga’s party told Malaysiakini that the money would be channelled to those in need through NGOs with high integrity.

Sommaruga (above) is tabling a motion seeking the restitution of illicitly-generated funds to their country of origin.

The Swiss government's seizure of CHF104 million (RM430 million) linked to Malaysian state investment fund 1MDB is mentioned in the motion...