Ex-banker details tax avoidance
Source: Agencies |
January 18, 2011, Tuesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
A FORMER Swiss banker yesterday supplied documents to WikiLeaks that he alleges detail attempts by wealthy business leaders and lawmakers to evade tax payments.
Rudolf Elmer, an ex-employee of Swiss-based Bank Julius Baer, said there were 2,000 account holders named in the documents, but refused to give details of the companies or individuals involved.
He has previously offered files to WikiLeaks on financial activities in the Cayman Islands and faces a court hearing in Zurich on Wednesday to answer charges of coercion and violating Switzerland's strict banking secrecy laws.
"I do think as a banker I have the right to stand up if something is wrong," said Elmer, who addressed reporters at London's Frontline Club alongside WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.
"I am against the system. I know how the system works and I know the day-to-day business … I wanted to let society know what I know. It is damaging our society," Elmer said.
Assange praised the ex-banker's attempts to expose alleged shady practices in the financial industry. Assange was making a rare public appearances since he was released on bail on December 16 following his arrest on a Swedish extradition warrant.
Elmer claims his previous disclosures showed evidence of major tax avoidance in the Caribbean.
However, Assange said that with WikiLeaks focused on the publication of its cache of about 250,000 diplomatic cables, it could be several weeks before Elmer's latest files are reviewed and posted on the organization's website.
Under the terms of his release on bail, Assange must live at the home of Vaughan Smith, the owner of the Frontline Club. He has compared the regime to "high-tech house arrest," but has promised that the flow of leaked documents published by his organization would increase.
Rudolf Elmer, an ex-employee of Swiss-based Bank Julius Baer, said there were 2,000 account holders named in the documents, but refused to give details of the companies or individuals involved.
He has previously offered files to WikiLeaks on financial activities in the Cayman Islands and faces a court hearing in Zurich on Wednesday to answer charges of coercion and violating Switzerland's strict banking secrecy laws.
"I do think as a banker I have the right to stand up if something is wrong," said Elmer, who addressed reporters at London's Frontline Club alongside WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.
"I am against the system. I know how the system works and I know the day-to-day business … I wanted to let society know what I know. It is damaging our society," Elmer said.
Assange praised the ex-banker's attempts to expose alleged shady practices in the financial industry. Assange was making a rare public appearances since he was released on bail on December 16 following his arrest on a Swedish extradition warrant.
Elmer claims his previous disclosures showed evidence of major tax avoidance in the Caribbean.
However, Assange said that with WikiLeaks focused on the publication of its cache of about 250,000 diplomatic cables, it could be several weeks before Elmer's latest files are reviewed and posted on the organization's website.
Under the terms of his release on bail, Assange must live at the home of Vaughan Smith, the owner of the Frontline Club. He has compared the regime to "high-tech house arrest," but has promised that the flow of leaked documents published by his organization would increase.
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