The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists has released candid file notes kept by Swiss bankers on their clients.
Some clients had legitimate concerns for their privacy and safety, while others simply wanted to stow their cash away from the taxman and their better halves.
“Mentioned they are very concerned with confidentiality and security, his wife has already been kidnapped right after their marriage and was found by the police…brother has also been kidnapped,” one note kept by a Swiss banker read.
Certain clients seemed to have a very frank relationship with their bankers, opening up about problems in their personal lives.
“A huge disagreement exists with his wife, and it’s possible there will be a divorce. The wife has no idea about anything to do with the account.”
Another note read: “He shared with us his concerns about the ongoing divorce proceedings. His (ex) wife harasses him. She’s denounced him to the taxman.”
Such is the cryptic world of Swiss banking uncovered by the ICIJ, some clients took to communicating with the bankers in code.
“We are prohibited from calling the client in Belgium. It’s always him who calls us. He telephoned today. He introduces himself under the name of a footballer (Zidane, Cruyf ...); wants to know the “price of caviar,” which means the total value of his assets.
The ICIJ also reveals that Swiss bankers are susceptible to the odd rant about their clients as seen in the note below.
“I AGAIN INDICATED THAT WE WERE NOT TAX INSPECTORS AND THAT IT WAS NOT MY FAULT HE WAS CANADIAN IN NATIONALITY. I INDICATED THAT I WAS UNABLE TO WORK MIRACLES….I AM NO LONGER WILLING TO KEEP MAKING AN EFFORT FOR SUCH A PERSON. THE PROBLEMS ARE ALL HIS MAKING AND RESULT FROM INSECURITY.”
Apart from doubling up as marriage counsellors, Swiss bankers also showed a deft hand when it comes to anger management.
“I tried my best to calm this client but he was disappointed and angry that nothing could have been done at this stage. I felt that he had to loose[sic[ his anger on somebody.”
The Swiss leaks have revealed that Maltese passport holders have $687.4 million stowed away in Swiss bank accounts.
One of those account holders is former Enemalta Chairman Tancred Tabone, who is facing bribery charges in the oil corruption scandal. Witnesses in the ongoing trial have said that a Swiss bank account was setup specifically for channelling the bribes.
The Guardian reports that Mr Tabone held €880,000 in two Swiss HSBC accounts.
HSBC also set up a Jersey offshore trust into which Tabone deposited $1m (€850,000). He planned to transfer in more funds, the bank wrote enthusiastically, noting “the potential is evaluated [at] over US$10m”, noting Tabone was “personally known by … HSBC Malta," the Guardian reports.