Switzerland is to hand over to Mexico $74m from frozen bank accounts of the brother of former Mexican President Carlos Salinas de Gortari.

Money from Raul Salinas's accounts was being returned 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 by the International Criminal Court.

The order came as the ICC investigated what it said were clear indications that the money came from the illegal drugs trade.

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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.

(BBC)

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