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.
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