A Swiss judge investigating money laundering has asked Mexico for information on the activities of the jailed brother of the disgraced former president, Carlos Salinas.

The Geneva judge, Paul Perraudin, told swissinfo he had sent a rogatory letter to the Mexican attorney general's office in early December seeking help in investigating Raul Salinas and his wife.

He was confirming a report on Sunday by the weekly Mexican magazine "Proceso", which said the Swiss authorities had asked Mexico for judicial assistance.

Salinas had been under investigation for money laundering by the former Mexican attorney general, Jorge Madrazo, who left office last December.

Salinas, who is currently serving a 27-year prison term for the murder of a politician, has been linked to secret bank accounts in Switzerland and elsewhere containing an estimated $100 million (SFr160 million).

Funds belonging to him have been blocked in Switzerland since 1998 after an investigation revealed the money came partly from protection pay-offs from drug traffickers.

Salinas has denied taking pay-offs. He accuses Swiss prosecutors of exaggerating the size of his accounts.

swissinfo with agencies

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