The founder of the internet whistleblower site WikiLeaks has criticised Switzerland for detaining a Swiss banker on suspicion of breaching banking secrecy.
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swissinfo.ch and agencies
Julian Assange told the Sonntag newspaper that Switzerland’s actions were drawing renewed international attention to its banking practices after the detention of former Bank Julius Bär employee Rudolf Elmer.
“Mr Elmer is in prison because he has revealed a criminal offshore system of tax evasion in which Swiss banks play a leading role,” Assange is quoted as saying. He argued that the authorities should rather be investigating the tax evasion claim.
It was confirmed on Saturday that the authorities had placed him under investigative detention. A judge is to decide on Monday whether to prolong this.
Elmer, who was given a suspended fine on Wednesday after being found guilty of threatening his former employer, is to appeal against the decision.
He was re-arrested in Zurich hours after his court appearance on suspicion of violating banking laws by handing over two CDs to WikiLeaks in London on Monday.
Elmer claims they contain details of around 2,000 offshore bank accounts.
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Whistle-blower re-arrested over WikiLeaks CDs
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The arrest by Zurich police on Wednesday followed Elmer’s appearance in a Zurich court, in which he was hit with a SFr7,200 ($7,500) suspended fine. He was found guilty of threatening his former employer and breaking Swiss secrecy laws. In a widely reported event on Monday he handed over two CDs to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange…
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It comes just two days after he handed WikiLeaks more client data. Shortly after the trial began, Elmer admitted that he had sent anonymous threatening letters to his ex-employer, Julius Bär bank, following intimidation. But he said bomb threats against the bank had not come from him. “I was in an extreme situation,” he said.…
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Elmer’s public show of defiance drew the battle lines against the Zurich cantonal prosecutor, who will also attempt to prove in court that the former Swiss banker tried to defraud his ex-employer, Julius Bär bank. On Monday, Elmer handed over two CDs to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange in front of the world’s media. Elmer claims…
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