Former BSI Bank Chief’s Memoir Reveals the Dark Side of Finance
Hans Peter Brunner, a former top banker, has written a memoir that delves into the world of greed and corruption in the financial sector. “The Art of Greed” tells the story of the 1MDB scandal, one of the largest financial frauds in history, from the perspective of Jho Low, a Malaysian investor with connections to Hollywood stars and political elites.
Brunner’s book is a fictionalized account based on real events, detailing how Low manipulated a network of actors, including bankers, lawyers, and politicians, to steal billions of dollars from the Malaysian state fund. The book’s release comes as a shock to many, as Brunner was once a respected figure in the international banking world.
The memoir also sheds light on the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority’s (Finma) handling of the case, with Brunner leveling severe criticism against the regulator. He claims that Finma unfairly targeted him and other top bankers, leading to a bitter aftertaste despite his 2021 acquittal on all charges.
Brunner’s story serves as a cautionary tale of the dangers of greed and the consequences of corruption in the financial world. Whether the book will reignite the debate on the responsibility of bankers and regulators remains to be seen.