US: Deutsche Bank ‘faces money laundering probe’

US authorities are investigating German banking giant Deutsche Bank over alleged money laundering in Russia, people familiar with the matter said Monday.

The investigation centers on billions of dollars’ worth of transactions carried out by Deutsche Bank in Russia that New York state regulators believe may have been used to disguise money illegally moved out of Russia, the sources told AFP.

The New York Department of Financial Services began the investigation of Deutsche Bank early this summer, sources said.

According to these sources, Russian clients unsuccessfully attempted to bribe a Deutsche Bank employee in Moscow in a bid to hide the origin of their money.

A Deutsche Bank spokeswoman said that Germany’s largest lender had placed on leave “a small number of individuals” in its Moscow office pending an internal review.

“We are committed to participating in international efforts to detect and combat suspicious activities and we take strong action where we find evidence of misconduct,” she said.

Full content: The Moscow Times

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