A Swiss judge started a criminal trial against a former UBS Group AG employee who allegedly stole client data without him being present, after he failed to appear in court for a second day, Bloomberg News reported Jan. 8.

The man stands accused of breaking Swiss banking secrecy laws by stealing client data and selling it to German authorities. He is charged with commercial espionage.

The judge at Switzerland's Federal Criminal Court said police were unable to track down the fugitive through his wife. His trial had been rescheduled for Jan. 8 after he failed to appear the previous day, the newswire noted.