Swiss ex-banker gives files to WikiLeaks

LONDON - A former Swiss banker supplied documents to WikiLeaks on Monday that he alleges detail attempts by wealthy business leaders and lawmakers to evade tax payments.

Rudolf Elmer, an ex-employee of Swiss-based Bank Julius Baer, said there were 2,000 account holders named in the documents, but he refused to give details of the companies or individuals involved.

He has previously offered files to WikiLeaks on financial activities in the Cayman Islands and faces a court hearing in Zurich on Wednesday on charges of coercion and violating Switzerland's strict banking secrecy laws.

"I do think as a banker I have the right to stand up if something is wrong," said Elmer, standing alongside WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. "I am against the system. I know how the system works and I know the day-to-day business. From that point of view, I wanted to let society know what I know. It is damaging our society."

Assange praised the ex-banker's attempts to expose alleged shady practices in the financial industry. He was making a rare public appearance since being released on bail on Dec. 16 following his arrest on a Swedish extradition warrant.

Assange said that with WikiLeaks focused on other issues - such as the publication of its cache of about 250,000 diplomatic cables, it could be several weeks before Elmer's latest files are reviewed and posted on the organization's website.

The organization has so far posted about 2,444 cables to the Internet since it began publishing the documents in November.