HSBC whistleblower asks Spain to deny Swiss extradition bid

MADRID – A former HSBC employee convicted of economic espionage in Switzerland is resisting extradition from Spain, arguing that his massive data leak from the bank’s Geneva subsidiary led to dozens of judicial tax evasion probes worldwide.

Herve Falciani, a French computer expert, appeared before Spanish judges Tuesday to prevent his extradition to serve a 5-year prison sentence for breaching Swiss banking secrecy laws.

Spain’s National Court ruled five years ago against a first extradition request. Falciani was tried in absentia in 2015 and arrested again in Spain this year on a renewed effort to extradite him to Switzerland.

His lawyers and Spanish prosecutors told a panel of judges that Falciani should not be sent to Switzerland because the case was already rejected in 2013.

A decision is expected in days.