Swiss whistleblower Rudolf Elmer plans to hand over offshore banking secrets of the rich and famous

[kster]

He will disclose the details of 'massive potential tax evasion' before he flies home to stand trial over his actions

Ed Vulliamy The Observer, Sunday 16 January 2011


Swiss whistleblower Rudolf Elmer plans to hand over offshore banking secrets of the rich and famous to WikiLeaksHe will disclose the details of 'massive potential tax evasion' before he flies home to stand trial over his actions


Share595 Ed Vulliamy The Observer, Sunday 16 January 2011 Article history
Rudolf Elmer in Mauritius: “Well-known pillars of society will hold investment portfolios and may include houses, trading companies, artwork, yachts, jewellery, horses, and so on.” Photograph: Rene Soobaroyen for the Guardian

The offshore bank account details of 2,000 "high net worth individuals" and corporations – detailing massive potential tax evasion – will be handed over to the WikiLeaks organisation in London tomorrow by the most important and boldest whistleblower in Swiss banking history, Rudolf Elmer, two days before he goes on trial in his native Switzerland.

British and American individuals and companies are among the offshore clients whose details will be contained on CDs presented to WikiLeaks at the Frontline Club in London. Those involved include, Elmer tells the Observer, "approximately 40 politicians".

Elmer, who after his press conference will return to Switzerland from exile in Mauritius to face trial, is a former chief operating officer in the Cayman Islands and employee of the powerful Julius Baer bank, which accuses him of stealing the information.

He is also – at a time when the activities of banks are a matter of public concern – one of a small band of employees and executives seeking to blow the whistle on what they see as unprofessional, immoral and even potentially criminal activity by powerful international financial institutions.


http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/jan/16/swiss-whistleblower-rudolf-elmer-banks

[pnwmom]

1. Except that the release won't include any names,

according to the article.

[sabrina 1]

2. And here we are told that Wikileaks 'indiscriminately releases

information'. I guess they don't. However, if what he says is true, those names should be revealed, preferably through prosecutions resulting in subpoenas since people from all the countries whose economies were destroyed by these Global Corps and Banks, would very much like to know where their money went. And now they have the gall to try to make the working class around the globe in the countries whose funds they stole, pay their bills for them. No wonder Tunisia exploded in revolt this week, another country whose leaders were exposed in the Wikleaks cables.

As Michael Moored asked in his documentary, 'Capitalism, A Love Story' ~ 'where is our money'? Maybe soon, he will have an answer. Another perfect example of why Wikileaks is so necessary and so feared by those with so much to hide.

"Once you become part of senior management," he says, "and gain international experience, as I did, then you are part of the inner circle – and things become much clearer. You are part of the plot. You know what the real products and service are, and why they are so expensive. It should be no surprise that the main product is secrecy … Crimes are committed and lies spread in order to protect this secrecy."

His allegations should have been investigated. Instead, just like Manning, when he tried to get his concerns addressed, he was threatened.

It will all come out eventually. The crimes are too big to remain secret forever. And the fierce reaction to these whistle-blowers only makes it more clear how much the criminals fear exposure.

[pnwmom]

5. Maybe this is part of Assange's insurance/extortion plan? n/t

[sabrina 1]

6. Could be. And I think that would definitely work as they are far

more concerned about the exposure of the Financial Industry, than about the wars.

[truedelphi]

3. Proud to be rec number four. n/t

[Catherina]

4. I can't K&R this story enough!

Viva Manning!

Viva Assange!

Viva Wikileaks!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8txhtB2e5M