Switzerland's biggest ever economic crime trial is to begin in Zurich today with 19 former managers, board members, and consultants of failed airline Swissair facing charges.
Sairgroup, Swissair's parent company, collapsed in 2001 with debts of around 17 billion Swiss francs ($13.64 billion), following a disastrous acquisition campaign that targeted struggling European rivals.
Former chief executives Mario Corti, Eric Honegger and Philippe Bruggisser are among those charged for their efforts to salvage the group.
State prosecutors have charged 19 individuals with irregularities including defrauding creditors, falsifying documents, breach of trust, and making false statements.
Several of the accused face possible prison sentences if convicted. Zurich's chief prosecutor Andreas Brunner has said that none of the accused is believed to have been motivated by personal profit.
"These are not actual business criminals or frauds," Brunner said when presenting the charges in March 2006, "but people who primarily wanted to prevent the collapse of the Sairgroup . . . sometimes, unfortunately, using dishonest methods."
As well as leading to investment, pensions and job losses, the company's sudden demise came as a major blow to Swiss pride, with Swissair seen as a symbol of national reliability, quality and efficiency.