An employee abuses numerous small children in a Bernese daycare center. (symbol image)Image: sda
Ex-Raiffeisen boss Pierin Vincenz convicted of tax evasion and not paying out funds to victims and survivors of Crans-Montana: This can be found in the Sunday newspapers.
May 24, 2026, 06:45May 24, 2026, 06:45
Pierin Vincenz convicted of tax evasion
According to the “SonntagsZeitung”, former Raiffeisen boss Pierin Vincenz has been legally sentenced to a fine of almost one million francs for tax evasion. The Federal Court confirmed a ruling by the Appenzell Ausserrhoden Higher Court from February 2025, as the newspaper wrote. The tax procedure was not known until now. In contrast to criminal law proceedings, tax proceedings are not public. The Ausserrhoden tax investigators have been investigating since 2021. The accusation is that Vincenz never paid taxes on 3.4 million francs of income. In addition to the fine, Vincenz had to pay additional taxes. How high this amount is is not clear from the judgment. Vincenz denied the allegations.
Concert for Crans-Montana: Where are the 150,000 francs?
According to the “SonntagsZeitung”, the proceeds from the memorial concert for the victims of Crans-Montana VS on April 22nd in Lausanne have not yet been accounted for. The ticket sales were intended to raise more than 150,000 francs to the Swisshearts association and thus to the survivors and those seriously injured in the fire disaster, as the newspaper wrote. So far, those affected have not received anything. Swisshearts organized the event together with the agency Only On Live. The organizers refused to provide any information, wrote the “SonntagsZeitung”. Inquiries to Swisshearts apparently came to nothing. One of the co-organizers of the concert had already been convicted several times in Paris, once for “abuse of trust,” the newspaper wrote.
Report: Gantner played central role in US customs meetings
According to “SonntagsBlick”, entrepreneur Alfred Ganter has taken on a more central role in the customs negotiations with the USA than previously known. After the then Federal President Karin Keller-Sutter was no longer welcome in the White House, Ganter organized three ministerial meetings for Federal Councilor Guy Parmelin, as the newspaper wrote. The co-founder of the Partners Group was present at two meetings – his company invests billions in the USA every year. The Audit Commission of the Council of States questioned Gantner this week about the customs negotiations, as the newspaper wrote. The Federal Council is currently working on a plan B: If US President Donald Trump does not agree to a legally binding customs deal, Bern would be satisfied with a declaration of intent. “SonntagsBlick” also mentioned that the Federal Prosecutor’s Office had legally closed proceedings against Keller-Sutter and those around her. In the fall of 2025, the Federal Prosecutor’s Office received a report of a violation of official secrecy, as “SonntagsBlick” wrote at the time.
Army: Pfister wants to reduce the number of staff officers by 50 percent
According to information from “SonntagsBlick”, Defense Minister Martin Pfister has asked the army leadership to reduce the number of senior staff officers. There is talk internally of a reduction of up to 50 percent, as the newspaper wrote. The brigadiers, division officers and corps commanders therefore suggested a reduction of 15 percent. The army wants to focus consistently on defense, said the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (DDBS). According to the newspaper, the State Secretariat for Security Policy (Sepos) is also considering a reorganization. State Secretary Markus Mäder wants to reduce duplication between the Sepos and the International Relations Department of the DDPS. According to reports, Deputy State Secretary Pälvi Pulli’s chair is shaking, wrote “SonntagsBlick”.
Maisano scandal: Zurich Ethics Commission rejects criticism
In the Zurich heart surgery scandal, the Zurich cantonal ethics committee defended itself against criticism in the “NZZ am Sonntag”. The commission does not exercise “comprehensive supervision over institutions, sponsors or individual researchers,” said Annette Magnin, managing director of the commission since 2023, to the newspaper. At the time of then clinic boss Francesco Maisano, the commission primarily checked what was presented to it, the newspaper wrote. The investigative report on the affair presented at the beginning of May complained that the commission should have done more if Maisano’s interests had been disclosed – he had not explained them all. According to the “NZZ am Sonntag”, Magnin replied with reference to the regulations at the time that there was no indication that the commission should have made a different decision. A lot has changed since then, she told the newspaper.
SIX stock exchange president admits mistakes
The chairman of the board of directors of the Swiss stock exchange SIX, André Helfenstein, criticized the integration of the Spanish stock exchange as “too hesitant” in an interview with “NZZ am Sonntag”. “That was a mistake,” he told the newspaper. The SIX President said the merger of all IT platforms is now being pushed forward “with all determination.” The new president also commented on the high loss in the 2025 financial year due to the investment in the financial service provider Wordline. “In retrospect, SIX could have sold the Wordline shares earlier,” he said. Now SIX must prioritize its investments more. Funds have become scarcer, but they will not be lacking.
Daycare abuse in Bern: information came from the USA
According to the “SonntagsZeitung”, the tip-off about alleged abuse at a Bernese and a Winterthur daycare center came from the USA. A report from the non-profit US organization National Center for Missing and Exploited Children was crucial to the investigation, as the newspaper wrote. The Federal Office of Police and the Bern public prosecutor’s office have confirmed the relevant information. The organization was alerted to a child pornography recording which, according to well-informed sources, the accused had uploaded to a search engine in order to find similar material. These were not the self-filmed attacks that the police found. The Bern public prosecutor’s office charged the 33-year-old with sexual assaults on at least 15 small children, as the “SonntagsZeitung” wrote.
Man killed mother with knife: Relatives say they warned in vain
The family of the 25-year-old, who injured family members, some fatally, with a stabbing weapon on May 12th in Faoug VD, has repeatedly pointed out to the authorities and doctors how dangerous he is, according to “Le Matin Dimanche”. The accused’s brother said this to the newspaper. The 25-year-old suffers from severe mental disorders and has already behaved violently towards his parents, “Le Matin Dimanche” quoted him as saying. The man is said to have been treated several times in a psychiatric center and to have fled from there several times. According to the newspaper, the Vaud authorities and the University Hospital (Chuv) did not comment on the case because of the ongoing criminal investigation.
SBB is threatened with massive additional costs for the Gotthard
According to “SonntagsBlick”, the SBB is threatened with additional costs running into millions in the Gotthard railway tunnel. The reason is delays in replacing the tunnel radio system, as the newspaper wrote with reference to the Simap procurement platform. There are several reasons for this: technical and internal organizational problems with the external supplier, as well as difficult access to the tunnel. Abandoning the project is an alternative. The SBB is forced to extend the contracts with the operator of the current system by two years, with an option of up to six years. The cost ceiling is over 4.6 million francs. Some of these are operating costs that arise anyway, the SBB said.
Show “The Tent” has financial problems – and has to take a break
According to “SonntagsBlick”, “Das Zelt” is pausing its tour on May 30th due to financial problems. 17 performances have been canceled, as the newspaper wrote. For 73 artists, this means their fees will be stopped because there is no insurance against default. 70 employees will be on short-time work from June. Due to liquidity bottlenecks, tickets are currently not being refunded. According to “Blick”, “The Tent” director Adrian Steiner spoke of a “chain of difficult circumstances”. He remains confident and is aiming for a new start next fall. (sda/con)