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White collar crime covers non-violent, financially motivated offenses committed by individuals, companies or organisations. In Wohlen, located in the canton of Aargau, such matters are handled under Swiss federal criminal law and cantonal enforcement structures. Typical offences include fraud, embezzlement, bribery and corruption, insider trading, money laundering, accounting and tax offences, and certain cyber-enabled frauds. Investigations can be conducted by cantonal police and prosecutors, and for complex financial cases federal authorities, financial regulators and specialised units can become involved.
White collar investigations and prosecutions touch on criminal, regulatory and civil risks simultaneously. You may need a lawyer if you face any of the following situations:
- You are under formal investigation or have been contacted by police or a prosecutor.
- You have been summoned for questioning, interviewed as a witness or received a penal order or indictment.
- You are an executive, director or employee accused of corporate wrongdoing, or your company is under investigation.
- Regulators such as FINMA, tax authorities or enforcement offices open an administrative or supervisory inquiry affecting your business or licence.
- Assets have been frozen, seized or subject to a preservation order.
- You are considering voluntary disclosure to tax authorities, money-laundering reporting units or regulators and want to understand the legal consequences.
- You need to conduct an internal investigation and require advice on privilege, confidentiality and cooperation strategies.
A lawyer experienced in white collar crime will protect your rights during interviews, advise on legal strategy, negotiate with prosecutors and regulators, coordinate forensic reviews, and represent you in court or administrative proceedings.
Key legal frameworks relevant to white collar crime in Wohlen include:
- Swiss Criminal Code (SCC / StGB) - Defines criminal offences such as fraud, embezzlement, breach of trust, bribery, forgery and corporate liability for legal persons.
- Swiss Criminal Procedure Code (CPC / StPO) - Governs criminal investigations, rights of suspects and accused persons, search and seizure rules, pre-trial detention and trial procedure.
- Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA / Geldwäschereigesetz) - Imposes obligations on financial intermediaries and certain professions to identify customers, report suspicious transactions and keep records.
- Financial market and supervisory laws - Including the Banking Act and FINMA supervisory rules, which apply when banks, securities firms or regulated entities are involved. Administrative sanctions, licence measures and enforcement actions can run alongside criminal proceedings.
- Tax law - Federal and cantonal tax rules that can give rise to tax fraud investigations or oblige disclosure. Canton Aargau tax authorities may initiate proceedings where tax offences are suspected.
- Cantonal enforcement - The Kantonspolizei Aargau and Staatsanwaltschaft des Kantons Aargau handle most criminal investigations in Wohlen. For cross-cantonal or complex financial crimes, Federal Office of Police (fedpol) and federal prosecutors may intervene.
Procedural protections - Suspects have the right to counsel, to remain silent, and to challenge investigative measures. Criminal liability for legal persons is possible under Swiss law, meaning companies may face fines and remedial measures in addition to penalties for individuals.
White collar crimes are typically financially motivated non-violent offences such as fraud, embezzlement, tax fraud, money laundering, bribery, corruption, insider trading and accounting offences. Cyber-assisted frauds with a financial motive also fall under this category.
Local criminal investigations are usually led by the Staatsanwaltschaft des Kantons Aargau and carried out by Kantonspolizei Aargau. For complex or cross-border cases, fedpol and federal prosecutors may assist. Regulatory authorities such as FINMA may conduct parallel supervisory investigations when regulated entities are involved.
If police or prosecutors want to question you, you have the right to remain silent and to be assisted by a lawyer. Politely state that you wish to consult legal counsel before answering substantive questions. Avoid destroying documents or deleting electronic data.
Yes. Swiss law allows enforcement against legal persons. A company may face fines, organisational measures and administrative sanctions if corporate wrongdoing occurred and the company failed to take appropriate compliance steps.
Voluntary disclosure can reduce penalties and signal cooperation, but it can also trigger full investigations and disclosure to criminal prosecutors. Seek legal advice before voluntary disclosure to weigh the benefits against the risks.
Timescales vary widely depending on complexity. Simple cases may resolve in months, while complex financial or cross-border investigations can take years. Early legal intervention helps manage timeline and strategy.
Yes. Swiss authorities can seek mutual legal assistance to obtain foreign evidence, and foreign authorities may share information with Swiss prosecutors. Cross-border cooperation is common in financial crime cases.
Yes. Prosecutors can seek freezing orders or seizure of assets during investigations to prevent dissipation. Banks may also take protective steps in response to regulatory concerns. Prompt legal action can seek to limit or contest such measures.
White collar cases often involve complex financial, regulatory and technical issues. A lawyer with specific experience in financial crime, regulatory enforcement and corporate investigations will be better placed to handle these matters, coordinate forensic experts and negotiate with regulators.
Costs depend on the lawyer's experience, the case complexity, and the amount of work required. Some lawyers work on hourly rates, others may offer fixed fees for discrete tasks. Legal expenses insurance or company legal protection can help. Many lawyers provide an initial consultation to outline likely costs and strategy.
When seeking information or assistance in white collar matters in Wohlen, consider these organisations and institutions:
- Staatsanwaltschaft des Kantons Aargau
- Kantonspolizei Aargau
- Federal Office of Police - fedpol
- Money Laundering Reporting Office Switzerland - MROS
- Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority - FINMA
- Federal Department of Justice and Police
- Swiss Federal Tax Administration
- Swiss Bar Association and Aargau Cantonal Bar Association
- Banking Ombudsman and industry dispute resolution bodies for complaints against financial institutions
- Legal aid offices and legal expenses insurers for help with funding a defence
If you think you need legal assistance for a white collar matter in Wohlen, follow these practical steps:
- Preserve evidence - Stop any deletion or alteration of documents and preserve digital records. Follow legal advice about what to preserve and how to store it securely.
- Do not speak to investigators without counsel - Use your right to remain silent and contact a lawyer experienced in white collar crime immediately.
- Gather basic information - Prepare a chronological summary, copies of key documents and a list of relevant people and accounts to help your lawyer assess the situation quickly.
- Arrange an initial consultation - Meet a specialist lawyer to discuss risks, possible defences, and options such as voluntary disclosure, negotiation or litigation.
- Consider internal measures - If you represent a company, consider an internal investigation, preserve privilege where possible and adopt measures to limit further risk while following legal advice.
- Coordinate experts - Complex cases may require forensic accountants, IT specialists and compliance consultants; ask your lawyer to coordinate these resources.
- Review insurance and funding - Check legal expenses insurance coverage or corporate budgets for defence costs.
Early and careful legal advice is the most effective way to manage risk, protect rights and achieve the best possible outcome in white collar matters. If you are in doubt, seek a specialist lawyer in Aargau with white collar and regulatory experience.
