Switzerland`s banks have begun reporting suspicious account activityamong some of their Saudi Arabian clients to the Swiss Money Laundering Reporting Office, part of the federal police service, say people close to the situation.
Lawyers acting for the banks have submitted information over the past week and expect several dozen submissions to be made in total, two people involved in the process said.
The exercise reflects the banks` nervousness about being found in breach of rules governing money laundering and corruption. It follows the arrest in Saudi Arabia last month of more than 200 people, including some of the country`s richest businessmen and princes. They were detained at the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Riyadh as part of an anti-graft operation launched by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom`s powerful heir apparent.
While Swiss banks strive to protect client confidentiality, they are obliged to report suspect transactions. So far the account reports have not led to action, such as searches or freezing accounts, by Swiss authorities.
Saudi officials must submit a formal request if they want access to the data, which is being analysed by the Swiss authorities. [As is standard procedure, incoming information is currently being assessed," the office of the Swiss attorney-general told the Financial Times. [At this time, criminal proceedings in this connection have not been opened."
Swiss bankers also say they have begun to prepare cash transfers on behalf of clients, as princes and business people seek to settle allegations against them. The crown prince is seeking to recover at least $100bn through the crackdown on [systematic corruption and embezzlement" that took place over several decades.
The Gulf state`s regulator has asked local and foreign banks to disclose if they have credit facilities and safety-deposit boxes in the names of those arrested, including billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, the media-savvy investor with stakes in companies including Citigroup and Twitter.
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