All 19 managers and consultants accused in the collapse of former national carrier Swissair were acquitted Thursday and will receive compensation totaling more than 2.4 million Swiss francs (US$2 million; euro1.5 million), the leading judge said.The defendants in Switzerland's largest corporate trial had all denied charges that included damaging creditors, mismanagement, making false business statements and forging documents. Some have blamed the big Swiss banks and the September 11 attacks for the airline's downfall.
Prosecutors had requested a six-month prison sentence for Mario Corti, the last chief executive of now-defunct Swissair, and a range of suspended sentences for 18 other airline executives, board members and consultants. In addition to the acquittal, most of the defendants will receive compensation payments ranging from 20,000 Swiss francs to 488,000 francs (about euro12,000 to euro297,000; US$16,000 to US$400,000) for Corti, judge Andreas Fischer said.
Prosecutors can appeal the acquittal within the next ten days.
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Airline collapse managers*cleared - CNN.com
Airline collapse managers cleared 
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