BENAZIR BHUTTO, the former Pakistani Prime Minister, and her husband, who is in jail in Pakistan, have been found guilty by a Swiss magistrate of money-laundering and have been ordered to pay more than $11 million (£6.8 million) in reparations to the Pakistani state.
Ms Bhutto, who lives in exile in London and Dubai to avoid arrest on corruption charges in Pakistan, has also been fined $50,000 by Daniel Devaud, a Swiss investigating magistrate. The case relates to accusations dating back to the 1990s that Ms Bhutto had access to money through kickbacks to Swiss companies dealing with Pakistan.
The Pakistani Government has promised to spend the money demanded by the court on flood relief operations in southern Pakistan.
Ms Bhutto and her estranged husband, Asif Ali Zardari, deny the charges and are considering an appeal. The guilty verdict against Ms Bhutto, who was removed from office in November 1996 amid allegations of corruption, is likely to further undermine her reputation in Pakistan.
Although many Pakistanis are already convinced of her guilt, she still enjoys support and could cause embarrassment to President Musharraf were she to return from exile. Attempts to bring corruption charges against Ms Bhutto in Pakistan have failed so far.