Progress in Lafayette case: ministry KICKBACKS: Local prosecutors will follow up on the case and assist Swiss authorities, if required, to facilitate the return of illegal payments, the Ministry of Justice said Staff writer, with CNA The Ministry of Justice yesterday confirmed that progress has been made in its pursuit of illegal payments made in the long-running Lafayette frigate scandal. Switzerland on Thursday announced that it would return part of the US$900 million it confiscated over corruption allegations linked to the case, which dates back three decades. “In the frigates case, Switzerland will restitute nearly US$266 million to Taiwan,” the Swiss Department of Justice and Police said in a statement, referring to the “illegal commissions” paid during a US$2.8 billion deal to buy six Lafayette-class frigates in 1991.