Swiss police handcuffed Hervé Falciani at HSBC's Geneva offices. Questioned him for hours. Released him on condition he return the next day.

He rented a car. Picked up his family. Drove straight to France. Downloaded 130,000 secret HSBC accounts. Names. Hidden wealth. Notes on how the bank helped clients evade taxes and launder money. 180 billion euros. His data went to Christine Lagarde. Then to governments across the world.

Billions in stolen taxes were recovered. HSBC paid 300 million euros to avoid trial. Switzerland sentenced him to five years in absentia. He is currently living freely in France.

Hervé Falciani worked inside one of the most powerful private banks in the world and what he found there changed the global financial system. After Swiss police arrested and released him, he left the country with 130,000 secret account files documenting how HSBC actively helped its wealthiest clients hide money and evade taxes on a massive scale. The total amount involved was 180 billion euros. He handed everything to Christine Lagarde who passed it to governments around the world. Billions in unpaid taxes were recovered as a direct result. HSBC settled for 300 million euros to stay out of criminal court. Switzerland sentenced him to five years in prison but he was already gone and has never been extradited. He remains free in France to this day.