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12 Sep, 2012

US pays $104 mln to whistleblower who reported employer — RT

The US government is bribing Americans to spy and report on fellow citizens’ finances. By giving financial rewards to whistleblowers who report on tax misconduct, the IRS hopes to catch those who don’t report all their earnings.

Bradley Birkenfeld, a convicted criminal who smuggled and sold diamonds that he carried in a toothpaste tube, was awarded record $104 million from the US government for spilling secrets about the Swiss bank UBS AG – his former employer. In 2009, UBS was caught helping 17,000 US clients hide $20 billion on their Swiss accounts. With Birkenfeld’s information, the bank was caught and required to pay $780 million in fines, penalties, interest and restitution.

via US pays $104 mln to whistleblower who reported employer — RT.