The Daily Caveat is written by Michael Thomas, a recovering corporate investigator in the Washington, DC-area. [More]
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5/11/2009
What is it With German Companies and Bribery?
9/14/2008
Liechtenstein and Germany Get Downright Catty Over Tax Evasion Scandal
BULGING PANTIES AND OVERSIZED TAX EVASION
The Economist Offers a Little Context on Corporate Spying in Germany
Did Heinrich Kieber Act Alone? FT Reports Authorities Seeking Accomplices
2/27/2008
Heinrich Kieber Shopped Stolen Records to the UK in 2006
Chronology of Germany's Efforts to Stem Tax Evasion
Codename: Henry - Heinrich Kieber is the German Tax Informant After All
2/24/2008
Hold the Phone! FT Calls Identity of German Tax Tipster into Doubt!
Liechtenstein Informant Named (For Real, This Time)
Liechtenstein Bank Informer I.D.ed in German Probe
Woes of German Business Elite Continue, Government Comes Calling on Tax Evasion
Chocolate Firms Raided
Sex, Bribery and Secret Payments at V-Dub
Half of All German Companes Affected by White Collar Crime?
SEC Begs German Assistance in Siemens Invvestigation 10/09/2007
Siemens Settlement Criticized
German Companies On Notice - Scandal may Not Stop at Siemens
German Scandal Run-Down
What is it With German Companies and Bribery?
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Liechtenstein and Germany Get Downright Catty Over Tax Evasion Scandal
Really Prince Hans...
Referencing a "Fourth Reich" is just in really bad taste.
-- MDT
6/24/2008
Referencing a "Fourth Reich" is just in really bad taste.
-- MDT
Labels: Germany, Heinrich Kieber, Liechtenstein, tax evasion
BULGING PANTIES AND OVERSIZED TAX EVASION
As a title, it probably reads better in the German - Spiegel updates German authorities investigation into high income tax cheats.
-- MDT
6/12/2008
-- MDT
Labels: Germany, tax evasion
The Economist Offers a Little Context on Corporate Spying in Germany
Any nation with a Gestapo in its recent history is going to to take privacy seriously.
3/02/2008
-- MDT
Labels: corporate spying, Germany
Did Heinrich Kieber Act Alone? FT Reports Authorities Seeking Accomplices
I was inclined to let it slide the first time the FT mentioned that authorities in Liechtenstein are pursing potential accomplices of known informant, Heinrich "Henry" Kieber, but now they've gone and mentioned that word accomplices for a second time.
That gets my radar up...
-- MDT
That gets my radar up...
-- MDT
Labels: Germany, Heinrich Kieber, LGT, Liechtenstein, tax evasion
1 Comments.
Well said.
Heinrich Kieber might have acted alone, but he needed his bystanders.
Meanwhile there is an international search warrant for Heinrich Kieber. For more info, click here.
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Heinrich Kieber might have acted alone, but he needed his bystanders.
Meanwhile there is an international search warrant for Heinrich Kieber. For more info, click here.
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Heinrich Kieber Shopped Stolen Records to the UK in 2006
The FT is reporting the Heinrich Kieber, the noted informant in Germany's current tax evasion crackdown first shopped is stolen collection of LGT bank records to UK tax authorities - potentially as far back as 2005.
Kieber was apparently turned down back in 2006 by HMRC. It seems they, at the time, were not interested in paying a so-called whisteblower (although German authorities give the impression it simply took the Brits too long to make a deal and Kieber simply began shopping for another buyer).
A lot has changed in a few years, it seems. After Germany lead the way British authorities apparently had no qualms about further lining Kieber's pockets - no matter that his information was illegally obtained.
The British treasure stand to collect as much as 100 million pounds in back taxes due to the information provided by Kieber.
Kieber was apparently turned down back in 2006 by HMRC. It seems they, at the time, were not interested in paying a so-called whisteblower (although German authorities give the impression it simply took the Brits too long to make a deal and Kieber simply began shopping for another buyer).
A lot has changed in a few years, it seems. After Germany lead the way British authorities apparently had no qualms about further lining Kieber's pockets - no matter that his information was illegally obtained.
The British treasure stand to collect as much as 100 million pounds in back taxes due to the information provided by Kieber.
Labels: Germany, Heinrich Kieber, HRMC, Liechtenstein, tax evasion
Chronology of Germany's Efforts to Stem Tax Evasion
Codename: Henry - Heinrich Kieber is the German Tax Informant After All
Although the FT seemed to cast some doubt that Henirich Kieber - codenamed Henry - was indeed the informant behind Germany's recent series of tax evasion busts, the consensus seems to be that Heinrich is in fact, the man. Now, how a convicted real estate fraudster (in Spain) ended up working for super-secret Liechtenstein bank, LGT, I'll never understand. Isn't that what Interpol is for?
But I digress...
The German secret service reportedly spent millions of Euros to purchase four DVDs worth of LGT banking records from Kieber. The files revealed all manner of funds scurried away in Liechtenstein's secretive banks not just by 600 German citizens, but also 800 more from Great Britain, Canada, France, Spain, Italy, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, the U.S. and Australia.
Many of these countries have begun their own investigations. Although use of the Kieber list has proved to be highly controversial with some countries (Denmark, for example) eschewing its use in their probes, other nations (US, UK - I am looking at you) have piled on to pay their own fees to access the stolen data.
Meanwhile, Liechtenstein is royally pissed, Germans are overtaxed and wealthy types in virtually every major Western democracy are loosening their sweaty collars. But Heinrich Kieber? Well, we have it on good authority that he's living somewhere comfortably, weathily even, and with a new name. I'm thinking someplace sunny... Australia, perhaps?
And if you're looking for more meat on the story but have so far skipped over all the links above, at least make a point of checking out this Speigel article on Heinrich Kieber. It is without question the best and most exhaustive account you'll find anywhere.
--MDT
But I digress...
The German secret service reportedly spent millions of Euros to purchase four DVDs worth of LGT banking records from Kieber. The files revealed all manner of funds scurried away in Liechtenstein's secretive banks not just by 600 German citizens, but also 800 more from Great Britain, Canada, France, Spain, Italy, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, the U.S. and Australia.
Many of these countries have begun their own investigations. Although use of the Kieber list has proved to be highly controversial with some countries (Denmark, for example) eschewing its use in their probes, other nations (US, UK - I am looking at you) have piled on to pay their own fees to access the stolen data.
Meanwhile, Liechtenstein is royally pissed, Germans are overtaxed and wealthy types in virtually every major Western democracy are loosening their sweaty collars. But Heinrich Kieber? Well, we have it on good authority that he's living somewhere comfortably, weathily even, and with a new name. I'm thinking someplace sunny... Australia, perhaps?
And if you're looking for more meat on the story but have so far skipped over all the links above, at least make a point of checking out this Speigel article on Heinrich Kieber. It is without question the best and most exhaustive account you'll find anywhere.
--MDT
Labels: Germany, Heinrich Kieber, informer, tax evasion, tax havens
3 Comments.
"Real Estate" has been a front in Nova Scotia since-during the Mulroney-Buchanan regime.
Focus the investigation on 'The unelected Associates" and the elected 'associates' out of Lunenburg County.
With Nova Scotia in the International Banking industry, they'll ne no worry about The Law, the Mulroney-Buchanan era saw -Specifically placed persons who know the ONLY reason they are "Sitting On The Bench" and at Crown Prosecuter tables is because 'the Associates' put them there and the only reason they put them there is in case they are ever 'needed' by the elected and unelected, 'Associates.'
Focus the investigation on 'The unelected Associates" and the elected 'associates' out of Lunenburg County.
With Nova Scotia in the International Banking industry, they'll ne no worry about The Law, the Mulroney-Buchanan era saw -Specifically placed persons who know the ONLY reason they are "Sitting On The Bench" and at Crown Prosecuter tables is because 'the Associates' put them there and the only reason they put them there is in case they are ever 'needed' by the elected and unelected, 'Associates.'
Does anyone know ho much is currently bounty for head of Henirich Kieber?
Numbers don't jive, 4 DVDs, 600 Germans & 800 other foreigners?
4 DVDs is over 4 gigs of data
banking data is extremely compact, 4dvds should hold data for tens of thousands of people, NOT 1200
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4 DVDs is over 4 gigs of data
banking data is extremely compact, 4dvds should hold data for tens of thousands of people, NOT 1200
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Hold the Phone! FT Calls Identity of German Tax Tipster into Doubt!
Liechtenstein Informant Named (For Real, This Time)
Heinrich Kieber - COME ON DOWN!
And it looks like many weathly U.S. citizens may be joining their German counterparts on the hook for hiding funds from the taxman in Liechtenstein's banks.
According to the WSJ, the Internal Revenue Service is in possession of the same banking records obtained by German authorities.
Also investigative their on citizenry are the United Kingdom, Australia, France and Canada.
-- MDT
2/20/2008
And it looks like many weathly U.S. citizens may be joining their German counterparts on the hook for hiding funds from the taxman in Liechtenstein's banks.
According to the WSJ, the Internal Revenue Service is in possession of the same banking records obtained by German authorities.
Also investigative their on citizenry are the United Kingdom, Australia, France and Canada.
-- MDT
Labels: Germany, Heinrich Kieber, Liechtenstein, tax evasion, tax havens
Liechtenstein Bank Informer I.D.ed in German Probe
Well, mostly identified:
- 42 year old man.
- worked at LGT between April and November 2001.
- convicted in 2004 for fraud, attempted blackmail and withholding evidence.
All this comes from German state prosecutor Robert Wallner, who has pointedly not released a name. But come on - how long could this list be?
Get to work INTERNET - I want an answer by noon EST.
-- MDT
2/18/2008
- 42 year old man.
- worked at LGT between April and November 2001.
- convicted in 2004 for fraud, attempted blackmail and withholding evidence.
All this comes from German state prosecutor Robert Wallner, who has pointedly not released a name. But come on - how long could this list be?
Get to work INTERNET - I want an answer by noon EST.
-- MDT
Labels: Germany, informer, Liechtenstein, tax evasion
Woes of German Business Elite Continue, Government Comes Calling on Tax Evasion
Hundreds are under suspicion of tax evasion and German officials have raided corporate offices across the country in recent days. We're seeing what apparently amounts to an ethical shift in a country where tax evasion has been seen as a sort of sport. The biggest target the tax probe to date has been Klaus Zumwinkel, chief executive of Deutsche Post. One thing is virtually certain. As German regulators cast their eyes across the border at the Liechtenstein banks where the wealthy and powerful have parked their illicit funds, more prominent names will soon be added to the list - as many as 900 of them.
-- MDT
2/12/2008
-- MDT
Labels: Germany, Klaus Zumwinkel, Liechtenstein, tax evasion
Chocolate Firms Raided
Busted up on price fixing charges!
Nestle, Mars and Kraft are all facing the scrutiny of German regulators.
-- MDT
11/30/2007
Nestle, Mars and Kraft are all facing the scrutiny of German regulators.
-- MDT
Labels: chocolate, Germany, price fixing
Sex, Bribery and Secret Payments at V-Dub
Lest you think that Siemens is having all the fun on the German business scene... Things at Volkswagen have been similarly interesting (and illicit) of late. BusinessWeek has the skinny on the sex and bribery scandal at V-Dub, including a recent 48 count indictment against one of the car-maker's former supervisory board members.
-- MDT
10/22/2007
-- MDT
Labels: bribery, Ferdinand Piech, Germany, Klaus Volkert, sex, Volkswagen
Half of All German Companes Affected by White Collar Crime?
One in two German companies affected by white collar crime? Interesting numbers here, and a window into Germany's very different corporate culture.
For more of those sorts of numbers, check out this recent global fraud report from Kroll.
-- MDT
10/15/2007
For more of those sorts of numbers, check out this recent global fraud report from Kroll.
-- MDT
Labels: Germany, white collar crime
SEC Begs German Assistance in Siemens Invvestigation 10/09/2007
Siemens Settlement Criticized
While the recent settlement between Siemens and Munich prosecutors does not preclude other investigations moving forward, many have stepped forth to criticize German authorities for letting Siemens off so lightly for what seemed like wide ranging, brazen illegal activity.
--MDT
5/22/2007
--MDT
Labels: bribery, Germany, settlement, Siemens
German Companies On Notice - Scandal may Not Stop at Siemens
Andrew Murray-Watson, Business Editor at The Independent muses about the Siemens bribery scandal. Not only do the escalating issues at Siemens tarnish the country's reputation for transparency, AMW argues, they may also signal a sea change for how business is done in Germany.
-- MDT
5/04/2007
-- MDT
Labels: bribery, corporate scandal, Germany, Siemens
German Scandal Run-Down
Siemens and beyond... The Times Online covers all the sorid details.
-- MDT
-- MDT
Labels: corporate scandal, Germany
