The Swiss Prosecutor, Michael Lauber, has resigned from his post, after a prolonged debate over his handling of investigations into the corruption scandal at the International Football Association (FIFA), known as "FIFA Gate".
"For the sake of the interests of the institution, I am submitting my resignation," Lauber, accused of his complicity with the president of the Swiss International Federation, Jani Infantino, after several informal meetings, said in a statement. Uber, 54, has faced multiple investigations into his handling of the investigation file into the FIFA scandals.
Uber was ruled out last year from investigating the corruption scandal that has rocked the federation since 2015, due to his undisclosed contacts revealed by the media with the president of the game's federation, especially several alleged secret meetings with Infantino.
He was also punished with an 8% reduction in his salary for one year, due to his lie and "obstructing" the disciplinary investigation that targeted him.
His resignation came after the decision of the Federal Administrative Court to which Uber himself had resorted to to challenge the punishment imposed on him.
The court said in a statement yesterday, that it confirms "mainly violations of the duties of the Attorney General, especially with regard to the third meeting with the President of FIFA, which the court also considered a serious violation of work duties." She also clarified that she had reached a conclusion, according to which the public prosecutor “damaged the reputation” of the Public Prosecution, and that he was “unaware and not convinced of the illegality of his actions.”
However, the court reduced the discount from his salary from 8% to 5%.
"I respect the decision of the Federal Administrative Court," Lauber said in his resignation statement. But I still strongly reject the accusation of lying. ”