'Dirty money' sent back to Mexico

Raul Salinas said he got rich during his brother's presidency, but legally

Switzerland is handing over to Mexico £74m (£38m) from frozen bank accounts of the brother of former Mexican President Carlos Salinas de Gortari.

Money from Raul Salinas's accounts was being returned to the Mexican government because it had criminal origins, Swiss authorities said.

Raul Salinas, who was an official during his brother's 1988-1994 administration, denies any wrongdoing.

More than $110m in Mr Salinas's Swiss accounts were frozen in 1995.

The freeze was ordered by the International Criminal Court which was investigating what it said were clear indications that the money came from the illegal drugs trade.

Presidential denial

Mr Salinas served 10 years in a Mexican prison, accused of masterminding the killing of his former brother-in-law, Jose Francisco Ruiz Massieu.

He was released in 2005 after an appeals court overturned his conviction.

After his release, he admitted getting rich during his brother's presidency, but insisted his foreign bank accounts were not illegal.

The former president has never been charged in connection with the case and denies any knowledge of the money.

A statement from the Swiss justice ministry said that the decision to release the funds came in response to a request from Mexico in December 2007.

The criminal origin of some of the money had been clearly demonstrated, the statement said.

The remaining assets which were not found to be of criminal origin are being unfrozen and returned to the claimants.