Elmer Trial Highlights Whistleblowing Dilemma

Elmer Trial Highlights Whistleblowing Dilemma by Matthew Allen, swissinfo.ch

The Swiss whistleblowing debate has ratcheted up a few notches with the new trial of notorious former banker Rudolf Elmer, accused of violating banking secrecy as well as proposed new laws to prevent informants going to the media with their concerns.

Former Julius Bär employee Elmer could get up to four and half years behind bars if found guilty of illegally handing over client data to the Wikileaks campaigning website.

However, Elmer collapsed on Wednesday shortly after the court case started. The trial has been suspended and it remains unclear when it will resume.

In 2011, Elmer – dubbed the “Robin Hood” of Swiss banking by some media – was originally given...