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

[Donnachaidh]

http://m.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/jan/16/swiss-whistleblower-rudolf-elmer-banks?cat=media&type=article

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

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

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.


MORE at the link --

[Cerridwen]

1. Lemme add a kick to my rec

This could be entertaining.

edit for spelling. time for new glasses. *sigh*

[Donnachaidh]

2. I was thinking the same thing lol!

:rofl:

[Cerridwen]

5. How cool.

We share great minds. :D

:rofl:

[GReedDiamond]

3. KnR...nt

[butterfly77]

4. Kick,kick,kick &recommended!

:kick:

[Richard Steele]

6. K&R

[ladjf]

7. This could be very important in the start of a process to bring down

the total control of the wealth transfer from the rich. People need to clearly be shown exactly how they are being totally screwed.

[WhiteTara]

8. oh so wonderful! Let the names flow like water

and the fbi there to put them in jail and the irs to be there to collect our money.

[Nailzberg]

15. 'cept wikileaks isn't gonna name the names.

Not sure what the point of this release is without names. Bunch of rich folks took all our money. We already know that.

[Luminous Animal]

18. Where do you get that?

[Nailzberg]

20. It's in the article linked in the OP

[Luminous Animal]

22. Well, then that leads me to suspect the source. Wikileaks is very careful about

verifying their info.

[pnwmom]

27. Wikileaks isn't careful about verifying their info.

Their stated philosophy is that they will publish documents, and that it's the responsibility of others to sift through it and decide how credible it is.

The reporters at the Guardian, like all true journalists, make an effort to check their sources -- Wikileaks doesn't.

[Luminous Animal]

33. You are 100% wrong. But keep believing it if you like. You only do disservice to yourself.

There is a reason why the veracity of their leaks haven't been challenged.

[pnwmom]

34. How can they verify documents submitted anonymously

that are not confirmed by the direct parties?

Their stated policy is nonsense. Five people can't verify the accuracy of millions of documents submitted anonymously.

From Wikipedia:

Documents are assessed before release. In response to concerns about the possibility of misleading or fraudulent leaks, WikiLeaks has stated that misleading leaks "are already well-placed in the mainstream media. WikiLeaks is of no additional assistance.<110> The FAQ states that: "The simplest and most effective countermeasure is a worldwide community of informed users and editors who can scrutinise and discuss leaked documents."<111>

According to statements by Assange in 2010, submitted documents are vetted by a group of five reviewers, with expertise in different fields such as language or programming, who also investigate the background of the leaker if his or her identity is known.<112>

[Nailzberg]

36. I'm not sure of the point you're trying to make.

Which source do you suspect:

The article in the Guardian? (and does that mean you suspect they are lying about Wiki not releasing the names of the Swiss bank account holders
Or
The source of the leak, former bank employee Rudolph Elmer? (And do you suspect the veracity of the information being provided, do you suspect his motives?)

I'm just not sure where you're trying to get at, so I don't know what to respond to.

[pnwmom]

32. Right. A bunch of money sits in a bunch of accounts.

Surprise surprise. Without the names this will be essentially meaningless.

[gratuitous]

9. Leaking U.S. government documents was one thing

Screwing around with wealthy people's money secrets is liable to get a person killed. If you thought the kerfuffle over details of our war crimes was big, this is likely to go one of two ways: An even bigger kerfuffle, or absolute, screaming silence as Elmer quietly just disappears off the face of the earth.

[pa28]

13. You got it.

Exposing criminal financial details that expose wealthy individuals and corporations to tax, legal or audit liabilities is another thing entirely.

This brave guy is going to end up ritually discredited or dead. He's got no chance.

[pnwmom]

28. No big deal. They're not releasing any names.

It's not a big secret that these kind of tax-evasion schemes exist.

[Lint Head]

10. EXCELLENT!

[BanzaiBonnie]

11. Cool... one of the Elmer family in Switzerland

one of my relatives no doubt.

[boppers]

12. Should be interesting.

kickies.

[Luminous Animal]

14. I suggest that every one, who can, donate to Wikileaks. They really are a small organization

and need all the help to get the out the information that is given to them.

They are a media organization and take care to confirm that the information they receive is legitimate.

[pnwmom]

35. They accept anonymous downloads and cannot confirm

that the documents are legitimate. Assange himself has said that he only publishes -- it is up to the world to decide whether the documents are accurate or not.

But he agrees with you on one thing -- he would like donations.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2011/01/12/132867028/in-interview-assange-hints-at-unreleased-documents-in-his-possession


"WikiLeaks technology was designed from the very beginning to make sure that we never knew the identities or names of people sub¬mitting material. We are as untraceable as we are uncensorable. That's the only way to assure sources they are protected."

[Prometheus Bound]

16. Gulp. Hope my name's not on there.

[Luminous Animal]

17. If you are engaged in financial unprofessional, immoral and even potentially criminal activity...

I hope it is.

[Prometheus Bound]

21. Actually, a Nigerian prince said he would deposit $10 million in my account soon.

[pnwmom]

29. No names are on there, so you're safe.

:)

[Swamp Rat]

19. Oooo! Looking forward to this!

:bounce:

[pnwmom]

30. Why? A bunch of account information with no names.

Sounds kind of dry to me.

[Hannah Bell]

23. still run by the founding family.

http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/Julius-Baer-Holding-AG-Company-History.html

http://www.haumesser.ch/Baer.pdf

http://www.haumesser.ch/

In his memoir, Hans J. Baer reveals the drive and emotions behind one of the most distinguished careers in swiss banking in the twentieth century. During his almost sixty-year career as manager of the Julius Baer Group, he helped develop it into one of the largest independent wealth managers in Switzerland. When scandal involving the dormant accounts of Jews murdered in the Third Reich rocked the staid and secretive swiss banking community, Baer brought his leadership and negotiation skills to the table, ultimately helping to form the Volcker Commission.

It's Not All About Money is the extraordinary story of a high-finance insider. As the title suggests, more than even his prominent career, his devotion to music, art, and philanthropy have been central to Baer's life. He relates his interactions with the Shah of Iran, his friendship with Carnegie Hall savior Isaac Stern, and other luminaries of art and science. Baer shares his intriguing story with humor and humility.

[lonestarnot]

24. K & R!

[Catherina]

25. Between this and Tunisia, I haven't felt this good in years! Rec'd n/t

[TheKentuckian]

26. Go! Go!! Go!!!

[pnwmom]

31. Go where? No names will be released, according to the article.

So I'm wondering what all the excitement here is about.