Swiss man admits spying on Germans out of ‘patriotism’

FRANKFURT AM MAIN: A Swiss man accused of spying on German tax officials admitted to the espionage operat ion yesterday, and told a court he acted out of “patriotism” as well as for profit.

Daniel Moser, 54, was arrested in the German business capital Frankfurt in April on spying charges a f ter he compi led information on officials tasked by the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia with uncovering wealth hidden at Swiss banks.

In a statement read out by his lawyer to Frankfurt’s superior regional court, Moser denied acting with criminal intent.

Rather, he was driven by “patriotism, love for adventure, profit- seeking motives and indignation”.

As a former policeman, Moser said he merely sought to uncover criminal behaviour on the part of German tax officials.

Switzerland had been seeking the identities of three German tax officers, hoping to build a case against them for illegally obtaining banking data, which are protected under the country’s strict secrecy laws.

Swiss banks have come under intense pressure in recent years as several German states started buying CDs or USB memory sticks allegedly containing data on German taxpayers who had parked their fortunes across the border.

Fearing prosecution, many of Germany’s rich and famous subsequently came forward to declare their hidden wealth, boosting the tax cof fers of Europe’s biggest economy by billions of euros.

In the extraordinary court statement, Moser voiced regret for his action, and named his Swiss spy handlers. — AFP