Swiss perspectives in 10 languages

Prosecutors target ‘Suisse Secrets’ bank whistleblowers

Bank vault being unlocked
Prosecutors want to find out who leaked banmking data to the media. Post@gaetanbally.ch +41 79 6672862 / 8047 Zurich

Swiss federal prosecutors have launched a criminal investigation into the leak of Credit Suisse bank data to the media last year.

The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) was given the green light to start the probe by the Federal Department of Justice.

+ Media freedom clashes with banking secrecy

The so-called ‘Suisse Secrets’ leak of bank client information hit the headlines in 2022, suggesting that criminals and corrupt officials held accounts at Credit Suisse.

This followed a series of press exposés based on data stolen from international  law firms connected with the financial sector.

The OAG is investigating suspected breaches of economic intelligence, trade secrets and banking secrecy laws.

+ Read how ‘Suisse Secrets’ unfolded

The OAG would not say who initiated the complaint or against whom the investigation is specifically directed. Last year, a Swiss newspaper said it has rejected the offer of leaked data as it feared criminal prosecution.

Switzerland tightened its banking secrecy laws in 2015 in the face of a spate of data thefts from Swiss banks.

The law is intended to punish anyone who profits from leaking data but also targets journalists who receive such information.

On Thursday, the government welcomed a parliamentary motion to ease restrictions on the freedom of the press.

Popular Stories

Most Discussed

News

No Swiss bank in phase with environmental objectives

More

Swiss banks failing environment, says WWF

This content was published on None of the 15 major Swiss retail banks is meeting international climate and biodiversity targets, according to a ranking by WWF Switzerland.

Read more: Swiss banks failing environment, says WWF
UNRWA provides emergency assistance to just over one million Palestine refugees, or about 75 per cent of all Palestine refugees in Gaza, who lack the financial means to cover their basic food.

More

Lazzarini: no alternative to UNRWA in Gaza

This content was published on The only alternative to the UN Palestinian agency’s work in Gaza is to allow Israel to run services there, Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA Commissioner-General, told reporters in Geneva on Monday.

Read more: Lazzarini: no alternative to UNRWA in Gaza

In compliance with the JTI standards

More: SWI swissinfo.ch certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative

You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!

If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR