The Financial Times, citing court papers and “a person familiar with the matter”, said that the four are alleged to have helped US citizens evade taxes over several decades through the use of Swiss accounts.
The court papers apparently state those facing charges worked for an “international Swiss bank”, which sources have confirmed is Credit Suisse, reported the FT.
A statement from Credit Suisse – quoted by the paper – said: “We are cooperating with the authorities in their investigation of these individuals,” adding, “Credit Suisse is not a target of the investigation.”
The case is said to centre on claims that Credit Suisse provided thousands of foreign accounts that were used to hold $3bn in untaxed assets. The offences allegedly date back to 1953 and involve 17 US clients, spanning two generations.
The four bankers are named on the court indictment as Marco Parenti Adami, Roger Schaerer, Emanuel Agustoni and Michele Bergantino, who variously worked in California, New York and Zurich. Warrants have been issued for their arrest though none are said to yet be in custody.
