Tag Archives: Herve Falciani

Ex-HSBC worker: US told him to head for Spain

A Spanish newspaper reports that a man wanted by Switzerland on suspicion of stealing confidential banking information is saying U.S. officials warned that he was in danger and advised him to go to Spain.

Herve Falciani, a former employee of global banking group HSBC, was arrested in July in Barcelona. He was freed with conditions, and is now fighting extradition to Switzerland.

In 2008, Falciani fled Switzerland to France. There, he said he collaborated with investigations into money laundering and tax evasion, handing over information linked to at least 24,000 HSBC customers.

In an interview published Sunday in El Pais newspaper, Falicani said he was cooperating with U.S. Justice Department officials when he was advised to head for Spain.

U.S. officials did not immediately offer comment on the claims.

From: http://feeds.foxnews.com/~r/foxnews/world/~3/pCxZbrj28iE/

Spain extradition hearing for ex-HSBC worker

Spain‘s National Court is holding an extradition hearing for a former bank employee wanted by Switzerland for allegedly stealing confidential information related to thousands of customers with Swiss accounts.

Herve Falciani, a French-Italian citizen, allegedly removed data linked to at least 24,000 customers of HSBC’s Swiss subsidiary, potentially exposing many to prosecution by tax authorities in their home countries. He passed a list of names to French authorities.

France‘s former Finance Minister, Christine Lagarde, now head of the International Monetary Fund, relayed the list to the U.S. and many European Union countries.

Spanish politicians oppose Falciani’s extradition, saying he is helping authorities investigate tax fraud, a touchy issue given Spain‘s recession and sky-high unemployment.

French prosecutor Eric de Montgolfier is due to attend Monday’s hearing as a witness.

From: http://feeds.foxnews.com/~r/foxnews/world/~3/qfzixzNNMLI/