Swiss regulator seizes $15 mln from private bank Mirabaud over laundering case
ZURICH, Sept 17 (Reuters) -Swiss financial market regulator FINMA on Tuesday said it had confiscated 12.7 million Swiss francs ($15 million) from private bank Mirabaud & Cie over violations of financial market law and breaches of its money-laundering obligations.
FINMA said Geneva-based Mirabaud had not made sufficient checks on customer relationships and transactions linked to a now deceased businessman who was accused of tax evasion. It did not identify the man, or say who had made the allegations.
In a statement, FINMA said it had opened three proceedings against individuals, without giving details. The authority did not reply to requests for further details on the case.
The watchdog said that from 2010, Mirabaud had business relationships with companies and financial structures that may have been directly or indirectly linked to the businessman.
Mirabaud managed up to $1.7 billion in assets "within the scope" of these relationships, which at times accounted for almost a tenth of its assets under management, FINMA said.
FINMA said Mirabaud must review and where necessary re-document relevant transactions with increased risks from 2018 to 2022 and create incentives in its remuneration policy.
"Finally, FINMA is confiscating CHF 12.7 million (Swiss francs) of unlawfully generated profits," the regulator said.
The regulator said it concluded the case in 2023, and that Mirabaud had attempted to keep the matter private, which a spokesperson for the bank confirmed. A top Swiss court had now ruled that it could be made public, FINMA said.
Mirabaud said it had been fully cooperative in helping FINMA to resolve the case, which it said "settles the past".
"Over the last years, the bank has implemented operational, organisational and personal measures elevating its compliance and risk management processes and is committed to maintaining the highest standards in this respect," Mirabaud said.
($1 = 0.8444 Swiss francs)
Reporting by Oliver Hirt
Writing by Dave Graham and Barbara Lewis
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