The Swiss bank's spying on top executives was more widespread than the two episodes and one allegation which have thus far come to light, according to a media report.
The Zurich-based bank was involved in at least two more surveillance schemes on its own executives, Swiss weekly «Sonntagszeitung» (behind paywall, in German) reported on Sunday. Credit Suisse has admitted and apologized for spying on Iqbal Khan and on Peter Goerke, two former top executives.
The outlet, which cited several undisclosed sources, said one of the spy schemes was ordered out of the U.S., without elaborating. It reportedly centered on an employee believed to be linked to ex-investment banker Gael de Boissard who was suspected of stealing and passing on company secrets.
Following Threats
De Boissard had left Credit Suisse after former CEO Tidjane Thiam passed him over in a 2015 restructuring. Responding to the newest allegations, the bank repeated a December statement that it finds spying «unacceptable and completely inappropriate.»
A separate planned surveillance scheme in Asia focused on a former employee who allegedly threatened another Credit Suisse banker, according to the outlet, which didn't make it clear if the operation had come to pass. A former Credit Suisse lawyer, Colleen Graham, has previously accused the bank of spying on her as well.
Spygate Breather
Ironically, the bank won a breather on another front of the spying scandal: a Swiss court denied Zurich prosecutors gain access to files seized from an alleged middleman in the scandal, «Sonntagsblick» reported (in German).
The middleman, between Credit Suisse and the private detective firm which conducted the surveillance, died by suicide shortly after the affair burst into the open. «Neue Zuercher Zeitung» reported he had worked for Credit Suisse so frequently that he maintained an employee badge.
Moving On
The latest drip-feed on spying at Credit Suisse comes nearly one year after the «spygate» scandal burst open: CEO Thiam was forced to exit in February and a close associate, Pierre-Oliver Bouée, was sacked after admitting coordinating the surveillance.
Chairman Urs Rohner, who was involved in what led to the episode in that he hammered out the terms of Khan's exit, is leaving in April. Khan, whose defection to Credit Suisse's biggest rival sparked the surveillance, now co-runs UBS' private bank.
