Judical inquiry into Luxembourg clearing house

A judicial inquiry has been opened into several top officials at Clearstream, an international clearing house and settlements…

A judicial inquiry has been opened into several top officials at Clearstream, an international clearing house and settlements firm based in the grand duchy, prosecutors said today.

Deputy Prosecutor Mr Carlos Zeyen said the investigation had been handed over to Judge Erni Nilles after being it had been launched on Friday. He did not say why the inquiry had been opened.

Mr Zeyen works in the financial prosecutor's office and is known for his expertise in cases related to money laundering.

Clearstream's business practices were brought into question several months ago after the publication of a book alleging the firm's involvement in money laundering activities.

READ MORE

Clearstream's directors denied all allegations made in "Revelations", written by French journalist Mr Denis Robert and Luxembourg financier Mr Ernest Backes.

Clearstream was created from the merger of Luxembourg's Cedel International and Deutsche Boerse Clearing. It has some nine trillion euros (7.9 trillion dollars) in deposits and handles more than 150 million transactions a year.

AFP