Georges Brunschwig, one of Switzerland’s most prominent attorneys, received permission today from the Swiss authorities to confer in jail with Joseph Ben-Gal, the alleged “Israeli agent” arrested for “threatening” the daughter of a German nuclear scientist now working in Egypt on the development of non-conventional weapons.
Mr. Brunschwig, who is president of the Federation of Swiss Jewish Communities, told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency today he will visit Ben-Gal tomorrow in the Lonhof Prison at Basle, probably in the company of Dr. Wieland, the Swiss public prosecutor.
The attorney could not see Ben-Gal until now because, under Swiss las, a suspect in Jail is not entitled to legal advice during the “first stage” of his interrogation by police. Ben Gal and an Austrian scientist, Dr. Otto Jukelik, were arrested March 2 on charges of having threatened Miss Heidi Goerke, daughter of the German physicist, Dr. Jens Goerke, Both Goerkes are now in Cairo.
M. Brunschwig also represents Ben-Gal on another case–the demand by the German Government that he be extradited to West Germany for alleged “attempted murder” of still another German scientist at work on the Egyptian projects, Dr. Hans Kleinwaechter. So far, the attorney has not as yet been informed about what proof, if any, there is of Ben-Gal’s involvement in the Kleinwaechter case. The Kleinwaechter attempt took place, presumably, at his home in Germany near the Swiss border last month.
Under Swiss law, Ben-Gal must first be examined on the German charge by the Swiss police department and the Ministry of Justice. He can appeal the decision of these agencies, if he finds them unsatisfactory, to the Swiss Federal Court, the highest judicial tribunal in this country.
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