Data stolen from HSBC in Switzerland: Bank

GENEVA: Data related to less than 10 clients was stolen from HSBC's Swiss branch, the bank said on Wednesday, amid media reports that some names of alleged French tax evaders was obtained by France through theft.

"HSBC Private bAnk (Suisse) SA confirms that an ex-employee, previously working for its IT-development group, stole data during a time between end of 2006 and 2007," said the bank in a statement.

"Following a period of federal police surveillance in 2008 he was interviewed by a prosecutor and this theft was reported to the bank," it said, adding that to its knowledge, the stolen data concerned less than 10 clients.

HSBC also said that it had filed a criminal complaint with the Swiss authorities in accordance with Swiss law.

The head of Switzerland's association of foreign banks Martin Maurer had earlier confirmed to AFP that banking data was stolen at the HSBC.

The confirmation came after Le Parisien newspaper reported that an employee of the Geneva branch of HSBC Private Bank stole a list of customers towards the end of 2008 and fled to France, where he is living under judicial protection in the Nice area.

In August, France announced that it had a list of 3,000 of its citizens which it alleged are hiding behind Swiss banking secrecy laws to conceal the profits of tax evasion and in some cases launder the proceeds of crime.

Switzerland's federal prosecutor's office was not immediately available for comment, while the Swiss finance ministry said it "would not comment on an ongoing case."

The case is reminiscent of a massive tax fraud probe launched in Liechtenstein after an employee of the LGT bank stole data of foreign clients and sold the list to German authorities.