German taxman 'bought Coutts leaked client details'
Source: Agencies |
July 15, 2012, Sunday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
GERMAN tax authorities purchased confidential information about clients of British private bank Coutts to check if they were hiding money in Switzerland, German media reported yesterday.
Financial Times Deutschland and Der Spiegel, citing anonymous sources, said that officials in the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia paid 3.5 million euros (US$4.26 million) for a CD containing the names of some 1,000 rich Germans who had accounts with Coutts in Zurich.
Coutts, which is owned by the Royal Bank of Scotland and has served as banker to Britain's royals since the 18th century, said it was aware of reports about the leak of its client information.
"Following thorough investigation, we have no evidence to suggest any such breach has taken place," a Coutts spokeswoman said.
Tax authorities in North Rhine-Westphalia didn't immediately respond to emails and calls. But the state has previously purchased other CDs containing client names of Swiss-based banks that led to tax evasion probes. It was not clear from whom the information would have been purchased.
The purchase of stolen bank information by Germany has irked Switzerland, which responded last year by issuing arrest warrants for three German tax officials.
A treaty to end the tax spat is being blocked by opposition-controlled states such as North Rhine-Westphalia.
State officials say the agreement would allow tax evaders who hid money in Switzerland to escape the heavy prison sentences they could face back home in Germany by paying a fine.
Financial Times Deutschland and Der Spiegel, citing anonymous sources, said that officials in the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia paid 3.5 million euros (US$4.26 million) for a CD containing the names of some 1,000 rich Germans who had accounts with Coutts in Zurich.
Coutts, which is owned by the Royal Bank of Scotland and has served as banker to Britain's royals since the 18th century, said it was aware of reports about the leak of its client information.
"Following thorough investigation, we have no evidence to suggest any such breach has taken place," a Coutts spokeswoman said.
Tax authorities in North Rhine-Westphalia didn't immediately respond to emails and calls. But the state has previously purchased other CDs containing client names of Swiss-based banks that led to tax evasion probes. It was not clear from whom the information would have been purchased.
The purchase of stolen bank information by Germany has irked Switzerland, which responded last year by issuing arrest warrants for three German tax officials.
A treaty to end the tax spat is being blocked by opposition-controlled states such as North Rhine-Westphalia.
State officials say the agreement would allow tax evaders who hid money in Switzerland to escape the heavy prison sentences they could face back home in Germany by paying a fine.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
