Secord Seeks to Bar Scrutiny of Swiss Bank Data
Retired U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Richard V. Secord has appealed to the Swiss Supreme Court to block U.S. investigators from obtaining records of Swiss bank accounts used in the Iran- contra arms dealings, Switzerland’s Justice Ministry said Wednesday.
Justice Ministry spokesman Joerg Kistler said similar appeals were filed by Secord’s business partner, Iranian-born American businessman Albert A. Hakim, and Iranian arms dealer Manucher Ghorbanifar.
Secord had indicated two weeks ago, in televised testimony to congressional committees investigating the secret arms deals, that he was inclined to drop his legal challenges and grant a waiver allowing investigators access to the bank records.
The new appeals, however, could take the court months to decide.
In Washington, Sen. Warren B. Rudman (R-N.H.), the ranking Republican on the Senate committee, said: “The fact that they (Secord and Hakim) will not voluntarily give us these records to me is not a good omen for getting to the bottom of this quickly.”
Thomas C. Green, a lawyer for Secord, could not be reached for comment.
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