About the OAG   

The Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland is based in several locations of Switzerland. The headquarters are in Bern and there are branch offices in Zurich, Lausanne and Lugano. Some 195 employees work for the Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland.

When conducting its investigations, the Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland is able in particular to call upon the services of the Federal Criminal Police (FCP) from the Federal Office of Police (FedPol), and, to a limited extent, also the cantonal police forces.

Federal criminal cases are heard before the Federal Criminal Court in Bellinzona. Appeals may be brought against its judgements before the Federal Court in Lausanne.

The activities of the Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland are controlled by a supervisory authority appointed by the United Federal Assembly.

The Attorney General heads the Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland in relation to legal, staffing and organisational matters in accordance with its statutory remit. The Attorney General may delegate individual cases to be dealt with independently by Deputy Attorney Generals, the Chief of Staff, the heads of department (chief public prosecutors) or the federal prosecutors.

The Attorney General and the two deputies are appointed by the United Federal Assembly.

Michael Lauber was elected Attorney General of Switzerland by the United Federal Assembly on 28 September 2011, assuming office on 1 January 2012.