Sweden seeks $2.5 mln in Liechtenstein tax probe

STOCKHOLM — Swedish tax authorities said Tuesday they have demanded 20 million kronor ($2.5 million) in back taxes from a dozen people accused of having evaded taxes by stashing money in Liechtenstein.

The investigation is linked to a CD-ROM that was leaked this year to German intelligence and contained confidential banking information about alleged tax cheats in the tiny tax haven. The disc is believed to contain some 1,400 names.

Aside from Sweden and Germany, Britain, France, Italy, Spain, Canada, the United States, Australia and New Zealand are also working to reveal the tax evaders.

Goran Haglund, who leads the investigation at the National Tax Board of Sweden, said at least 12 Swedes are suspected of having hidden some 156 million kronor in foundations in Liechtenstein.

Haglund said 20-30 more cases are under investigation. He said some suspects have cooperated with authorities, while others have rejected the claims.

Liechtenstein has protested Germany's methods for acquiring the customer information and insisted it would continue to allow foreigners to open trusts anonymously by registering them through a local attorney or trustee.

Swedish authorities would not say how they obtained the information on the Swedish suspects, but said it was not through Germany.

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