Zurich - Swiss prosecutors are pursuing around 42.4 million Swiss francs ($45.5 million) in compensation from Credit Suisse in a money-laundering trial due to begin on Feb. 7, the Swiss Federal Criminal Court (FCC) said on Monday.
The prosecutors say the country's second-biggest bank and one of its former relationship managers did not take all necessary steps to prevent the alleged drug traffickers from hiding and laundering cash between 2004 and 2008.
In the first criminal trial of a major bank in Switzerland, prosecutors are seeking around 42.4 million Swiss francs in compensation from Credit Suisse, which added that it would "defend itself vigorously in court".
Switzerland's second-biggest bank, which is trying to rebuild its reputation after a series of scandals and the abrupt departure of its chairman, issued a profit warning last week due to legal costs and a slowdown in its trading and wealth management divisions.
The indictment runs to more than 500 pages, and centres on relationships that Credit Suisse and its ex-employee had with former Bulgarian wrestler Evelin Banev and multiple associates, two of whom are charged in the case. A second indictment in the case charges a former relationship manager at Julius Baer with facilitating money laundering.
A summary on the FCC's website shows Credit Suisse is accused of failing to take all necessary measures to prevent an employee from laundering money. Credit Suisse denied any wrongdoing by the employee.
-Reuters