A former UBS banker convicted of selling confidential data from the Swiss bank to Germany has an unusual argument in an appeals process this week.
An appeals process for a former employee of Zurich-based UBS begins in federal court in Bellinzona on Monday. The fact that the man, whose identity isn't disclosed, violated banking secrecy isn't being disputed (he sold files to German officials).
The appeal centers on espionage charges, money laundering, and violations of firearms law after authorities found illegal ammunition in a raid of his home. He was convicted last year and sentenced to 40 months imprisonment.
Sole Access to Data
It isn't clear whether the former UBS employee will lodge the appeal in person (he didn't show up for last year's trial because he had fled to Germany). He sold data to North Rhine-Westphalia, one of the German states which was most assertive about pursuing its citizens with hidden offshore accounts in Switzerland, for 1.1 million euros ($1.2 million).
One of the benefactors was a foundation dubbed «Golden Pumuckl,» or goblin, according to the charges. The former UBS employee was the only person with access to the data in question at the time of its theft, leading authorities to him.
