Media: in Austria are investigating money laundering by Ukrainian banks
KIEV. 21 Feb. UNN. In Austria, gaining momentum in the investigation of hundreds of millions of dollars withdrawn from Ukrainian banks across this country offshore. In business for 30 suspects, their names are not known, however it is known that among them citizens of Ukraine, writes DW, reports UNN.
“The anti-corruption Prosecutor’s office of Austria investigates a criminal case on suspicion in money laundering through Meinl Bank in 2016. It is a private Austrian Bank medium size, which specializiruetsya mainly on asset management and stock management”, – writes the edition.
As found out the publication, several years of investigation the case took a considerable extent.
“The investigation is conducted against 30 individuals and one Association”, – reported in Prosecutor’s office.
Provided that the names of the suspects before the office referred to, “however, it is known that among them there are citizens of Ukraine”.
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“In criminal proceedings referred to the disappearance of money from the correspondent accounts of Ukrainian banks in Austria. According to the Deposit guarantee Fund, with a corresponding accounts with Meinl Bank was illegally withdrawn 385 million dollars and 75 million euros. The money was sent on the instructions of the owners or top management of the bankrupt banks in the offshore in 2014-2015, as a rule, at the last moment before the introduction of the troubled banks in temporary administration. Thus it was the stolen money of the Ukrainian depositors, most of which after the bankruptcy of the banks are left with nothing,” – said in the article.
“According to the Ukrainian Deposit guarantee Fund, in particular through Meinl Bank withdrew $ 38 million from “PIVDENCOMBANK” 40 million “Terra Bank”, 39.5 million dollars from “VAB Bank”, 62 million euros from “City commercial Bank” and $ 44 million from the Bank “Kyivska Rus”, – writes the edition.
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The scheme of withdrawal of money, as he called it, simple. In this information, the Bank Austria allegedly on the orders of the owner of the Ukrainian Bank provides loans “controlled by the Ukrainian offshore companies.” “The surety of these loans are funds on correspondent accounts of Ukrainian banks in foreign Bank giving a loan – for example, Meinl Bank. In the end, credit is not refundable and “guarantee” funds from the correspondent account is transferred to another offshore company in repayment of the loan. This kind of transaction on the banking jargon called “operation back-to-back”. They are not illegal, but they are often used for money laundering”, – says the publication.
Citing data from the Deposit guarantee Fund the publication notes that “for 2014-2015 with the help of such “schemes” from the Ukrainian banks were put in just 846 million dollars and 75 million euros.”
“To write off money so on the eve of the introduction of the interim administration ran the owners of 14 Ukrainian banks”, – writes the edition.
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In addition to Austria, as noted, the investigation into suspected money laundering by Ukrainian banks carried out in Liechtenstein, which was confirmed by the attorney General of this country.
“The money was derived, according to the Deposit guarantee Fund, through the Bank Frick and Co. In particular, 25 million out of the Bank “national credit”, 59 million dollars from the Bank “Finance and Credit” and 115 million with “Delta Bank”… but money derived through Liechtenstein, with “Delta Bank” was derived 99 million through the Austrian Meinl Bank and almost 184 million dollars in East-West United SA, in Luxembourg,” – said in the article.
Earlier, Austria recorded an influx of dubious money from Ukraine.