Dutch prosecutor investigating ING over possible corruption in Uzbekistan
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 22 March 2017 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Dutch prosecutor investigating ING over possible corruption in Uzbekistan, 22 March 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5975a69b13.html [accessed 21 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
March 22, 2017
The headquarters of the ING financial group in Amsterdam (file photo)
The Dutch prosecutor's office said it is investigating ING Groep over the global financial firm's possible role in money laundering and corruption in Uzbekistan.
Prosecutors said on March 22 they are looking at "irregular" transactions involving ING Bank, a unit of ING Groep, as well as "unusual" payments by telecoms firm VimpelCom to a company held by an Uzbek government official.
ING stated in its annual report last week that it is the subject of a Dutch criminal investigation. It added that U.S. authorities had filed information requests with the Dutch bank regarding the investigation.
"The bank is suspected of having failed to report, or report in a timely fashion, irregular transactions," Dutch prosecutors said in a statement. "It is suspected of having enabled international corruption and money laundering."
The prosecutor gave no further details. International investigative journalist collaboration OCCRP said on March 20 that ING was one of more than 730 banks linked to Russian money laundering between January 2011 and October 2014.
VimpelCom, which has its headquarters in the Netherlands, paid 716 million euros in February 2016 to settle its role in the case.
Based on reporting by Financieele Dagblad and Reuters
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
