French whistleblower Stephanie Gibaud exposes worldwide banking fraud | The Chris Hedges Report

The Real News Network2 minutes read

Former UBS Bank employee Stephanie Gibaud faced retaliation after refusing to delete files on offshore accounts, leading to the exposure of $12 billion in assets. Despite legal battles and harassment, Gibaud aims to be recognized as a whistleblower in France and highlights the lack of protection for whistleblowers in the country.

Insights

  • Stephanie Gibaud, a former UBS Bank employee, exposed offshore accounts after refusing to delete files, facing harassment and isolation, leading to financial ruin and being barred from the financial sector.
  • Despite legal battles and victories, Gibaud's experience sheds light on the lack of whistleblower protection in France, contrasting with the US, where significant rewards are given, raising questions about ethical integrity and the influence of powerful entities on political decisions.

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Recent questions

  • What did Stephanie Gibaud refuse to do in 2008?

    Stephanie Gibaud refused to delete computer files related to customers with offshore accounts in Switzerland in 2008.

  • What penalty did UBS face in 2007?

    UBS faced a $780 million penalty in 2007.

  • What was the fine imposed on Credit Suisse in 2014?

    Credit Suisse paid a $2.6 billion fine in 2014.

  • What consequences did Stephanie Gibaud face after writing a book?

    Stephanie Gibaud faced a defamation lawsuit from UBS after writing a book.

  • What is Stephanie Gibaud striving to achieve in France?

    Stephanie Gibaud is striving to be recognized as the first whistleblower in France.

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Summary

00:00

Whistleblower exposes UBS tax evasion scandal

  • Stephanie Gibaud, a former UBS Bank employee, was instructed in 2008 to delete computer files related to customers with offshore accounts in Switzerland.
  • This directive followed the exposure by Bradley Birkenfeld in 2007 of UBS facilitating tax evasion for American clients, resulting in a $780 million penalty.
  • Credit Suisse, in 2014, paid $2.6 billion for sheltering client money to evade taxes.
  • Gibaud refused to delete her files, leading to the identification of 38,000 offshore accounts totaling $12 billion.
  • Despite protests to UBS management and French regulators, Gibaud faced harassment and isolation, eventually being fired in 2012.
  • UBS sued Gibaud for defamation after she wrote a book, with her compensation request of 3.5 million euros reduced to 4,500 euros.
  • UBS was fined $4.9 billion in 2019, leaving Gibaud financially ruined and barred from the financial sector.
  • The French legal system lacks compensation for whistleblowers, unlike the US, where significant rewards are given.
  • Gibaud is striving to be the first recognized whistleblower in France, aiming for protection and compensation.
  • Gibaud's role at UBS involved organizing VIP events to build trust with wealthy clients, crucial for long-term wealth management relationships.

19:56

Whistleblower battles fraud, isolation, and discrimination.

  • Documents were given to French regulators to uncover fraud.
  • The individual faced isolation, harassment, and discrimination for three years.
  • Legal resources were continuously used to make the individual's life miserable.
  • The individual was blacklisted from working in the financial sector.
  • The individual was considered a whistleblower and faced severe consequences.
  • The individual's job and identity were gradually stripped away, leading to emotional distress.
  • The individual faced physical harassment, including incidents like their dog being poisoned.
  • Legal battles with UBS and the French administration lasted for years.
  • Despite winning court cases, the individual faced financial and emotional strain.
  • The individual questioned the lack of protection for whistleblowers and the challenges faced in seeking justice.

38:06

"WikiLeaks: Exposing Lies in Society"

  • WikiLeaks celebrated its 17th anniversary, highlighting the prevalence of lies in society, particularly in the context of wars being fueled by falsehoods, as emphasized by the author Stephanie Gibaud, who questions the ethical integrity of justice systems and the influence of powerful entities on political decisions.
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