The Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland has demanded Credit Suisse be fined CHF5 million ($5.4 million) – the maximum provided for by law – for aggravated money laundering and subsidiary support of a criminal organisation.
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Switzerland’s second-largest bank is a defendant in a trial, which began on February 7, involving millions of euros that were allegedly laundered through its coffers by Bulgarian drug trafficker Evelin Banev.
On Wednesday prosecutor Alice de Chambrier denounced the bank’s organisational shortcomings in the fight against money laundering. All the protective walls – the client advisor, her superiors and the risk department – had failed, she said.
Since there were no mitigating circumstances, de Chambrier called for the maximum fine of CHF5 million. If found guilty, the bank may also have to settle two compensation claims: CHF34 million for the money that escaped justice and CHF7 million of illicitly earned profits.
Last week a former Credit Suisse banker told the court that the bank had dismissed her concerns about murders allegedly linked to Banev.
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Credit Suisse accused of ignoring murders allegedly linked to Bulgarian druglord
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A banker on trial in Switzerland has alleged that the bank dismissed her concerns about murders allegedly linked to cocaine trafficker Evelin Banev.
Prosecutors state that the drug ring washed CHF146 million through Credit Suisse, including large sums of cash in suitcases, between 2004 and 2008.
Two alleged members of the cocaine-smuggling ring and two former bankers, from Credit Suisse and Julius Bär, will appear in the dock.
Last December Falcon private bank, the Swiss entity of an Abu Dhabi-controlled financial group, was found guilty of money-laundering offences and fined by a Swiss court. But Credit Suisse is the first major Swiss-controlled bank to appear in a money-laundering trial in the country, according to Swiss public broadcaster, SRF.
“Credit Suisse unreservedly rejects as meritless all allegations in this legacy matter raised against it and is convinced that its former employee is innocent,” the bank said in a statement to Reuters at the beginning of the trial.
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Swiss bank faces money-laundering trial over Bulgarian drug funds
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Credit Suisse “first major Swiss bank” to be tried for money laundering as part of Bulgarian drug ring court case.
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A shooting range in Wittenbach, northeastern Switzerland, was broken into on Sunday night. The unknown perpetrators stole several antique weapons.
Euro 2025: most of crowd at Germany-France match were women
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Over the four days, around 98,000 people – including volunteers – made their way up Bern’s local mountain for the 42nd edition of the festival.
Foreign residents in Moutier gain voting rights before town joins canton Jura
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Foreign nationals living in Moutier will be able to vote in local and cantonal elections this year, even before the town joins the canton of Jura in 2026.
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By 8am on Saturday, an 11-kilometre queue had formed at the Gotthard tunnel’s northern entrance, with drivers facing nearly two hours of delays.
Plant-based meat market in Switzerland set to grow to CHF361 million by 2030
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The army is looking for a modern solution for its decommissioned fortress mortar bunkers, with plans to turn them into hardened defence hubs.
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Vast leak alleges Credit Suisse accounts held by corrupt officials and criminals
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A global investigation by media outlets has uncovered dozens of accounts at Credit Suisse allegedly held by corrupt officials and criminals.
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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.