Banks dossier handed to WikiLeaks founder

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange today took delivery of a disc reportedly containing confidential bank account details of 2,000 rich and famous individuals and corporations.

Swiss whistleblower Rudolf Elmer, a former bank employee who produced the CD, said he wanted to disclose details of mass tax evasion before he flies back to Switzerland to stand trial accused of stealing information from a bank.

Although he has not named those involved, he claims the CD contains information about 40 politicians.

Other clients include business people, multinational conglomerates and “people who have made their living in the arts”, he told The Observer newspaper.

He said those named in the documents are from Britain, America, Germany, Austria, Asia and “all over”.

At the Frontline Club in London, Mr Elmer gave Mr Assange two CDs containing the offshore bank account details of the "high net worth" individuals and businesses.

Mr Elmer, a former executive at Julius Baer Bank, one of Switzerland’s top private banks, said he was releasing the information to educate society.

“I do think as banker I have the right to stand up if something is wrong,” he said.

“I am against the system. I know how the system works and I know the day-to-day business. From that point of view, I wanted to let society know what I know. It is damaging our society.”