UBS representative makes no statements in the Bulgaria trial
Published: Wednesday, Oct 2nd 2024, 17:30
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In the trial concerning the money of the Bulgarian mafia, UBS insists on its position that it has nothing to do with the accusations made against Credit Suisse. The Appeals Chamber of the Federal Criminal Court questioned two defendants in addition to the UBS representative. Both claim to have known nothing about the activities of the mafia clan.
During his questioning, the UBS representative repeated the statements already made by the UBS lawyers at the start of the trial on Monday: the bank did not agree with the transfer of responsibility from Credit Suisse to them. "UBS has nothing to do with this matter."
The lawyer added that he was not in a position to say anything about the case. "The matter is 17 years old and involves a different bank and different management bodies." He clarified that he had never worked for Credit Suisse.
Trusted representative of the clan
On Wednesday, the appeals chamber questioned the 51-year-old Bulgarian accused of looking after clan boss Evelin Banev's investments. He was considered a confidant of the mafia boss and was sentenced in June 2022 to 36 months' imprisonment, including 18 months unconditionally, and a fine for participation in a criminal organization, qualified money laundering and attempted qualified money laundering.
The man stated that he no longer had any contact with Banev. Because he lived in the same town in Bulgaria, he had met members of his circle by chance, but not the boss himself. He now lived from exporting cars and parts to his home country.
The accused said that he had maintained a purely business relationship with Banev. Despite the murders within the organization, he had never felt threatened.
Former banker
After the Bulgarian, the court questioned a former employee of Bank Julius Baer. The man from Valais left the financial institution to work for the Bulgarians. He was sentenced in the first instance to a conditional prison sentence of 14 months and a fine for supporting a criminal organization and qualified money laundering.
The 63-year-old explained how his relationship with the Bulgarians at Julius Baer began and how he received a job offer from them in 2007 to set up a holding company. In return, he received compensation of 60,000 euros in small bills. At the time, his internet research on Banev revealed nothing negative, he said.
According to the man from Valais, he only realized who he was dealing with when he was questioned by the federal police. His encounters with Banev did not seem suspicious to him.
Family visit to Bulgaria
He had visited Banev with his wife and children in Bulgaria, he continued. He would not have done this if he had known who he was dealing with. "They were friends to me, they abused my trust."
The former bank employee expressed his astonishment at Julius Baer's passivity in the face of the arrival of the Bulgarian money. UBS had not become more reactive when the Bulgarians had transferred 50,000 euros to his private account.
The Appeals Chamber rejected an application by UBS to suspend the hearing or discontinue the proceedings against the bank. An appeal against the suspension already rejected once by the Chamber is currently pending before the Federal Supreme Court.
The trial is expected to last until October 10 and will continue with the pleadings of the parties.
©Keystone/SDA
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