French whistleblowers and tax evasion are taken seriously. On March 9, a French court ordered the Swiss bank, UBS, to pay a 75,000 euro fine for psychologically harassing two people who blew the whistle on an arrangement that enabled wealthy French clients to avoid taxes.

The French court’s decision concludes a 15-year-long legal battle. UBS Europe absorbed its French subsidiary and has agreed to pay 50,000 euros to the former head of internal auditing Nicolas Forissier, who was victimized. The second victim, former marketing manager Stephanie Gibaud, also reached an agreement with the bank.

UBS was found not guilty of charges such as witness tampering and obstruction of the functioning of an internal committee. However, the bank and its French company were convicted of setting up a tax evasion system from 2004 to 2012. At the hearing, the prosecutor requested a maximum fine of 225,000 euros for all offenses.

According to Forissier’s attorney, William Bourdon, this is the first time that a French former employer of a whistleblower has been found guilty of psychological harassment. Bourdon was not particularly jazzed about the settlement amount, but overall, they “are happy and proud of this decision” and emphasized that this is a “powerful message to the whistleblowers of tomorrow.”

Forissier commented: “The truth has come out… I did my job, nothing more, but I served the interests of the state, and I respected the law of my country. I am very, very proud of that.”

The bank stated: “We are pleased that the court has acquitted UBS on the charges of witness tampering and obstruction of the functioning of an internal committee… we disagree with the convictions for psychological harassment, which we find unjust. We will thoroughly analyze the decision and decide on next steps.”

In the US, there are whistleblower programs and protections in place, incentivizing those who come forward. Including the False Claims Act, the Dodd-Frank Act, and the IRS and Motor Vehicle Safety whistleblower rewards programs, there are numerous other whistleblower laws that encourage whistleblowing, provide protection to whistleblowers from retaliation, and/or offer financial rewards for reporting misconduct. These laws may protect whistleblowers against retaliation for reporting fraud internally (such as to the whistleblower’s employer) or externally (to the government).

Constantine Cannon whistleblower partner Alysia Solow commented: “It is vital that future whistleblowers around the globe feel comfortable and confident when coming forward with important information about illegal activity. At our firm, we help our clients navigate tricky situations and matters where they could be eligible for whistleblower rewards, protections, and what to do if they are retaliated against.”

If you believe you have a case or would like more information on blowing the whistle, please contact us so we can connect you with a member of our whistleblower lawyer team for a free and confidential consultation.

Read Do Not Harass Whistleblowers: UBS Pays 75,000 Euro Fine for Harassing Former Employees Who Reported Tax Fraud at constantinecannon.com