Spain's High Court investigates Caixabank for alleged money laundering

By Angus Berwick and Jesús Aguado

MADRID, April 19 (Reuters) - Spain's High Court on Thursday placed Caixabank under formal investigation over allegations that the Spanish bank was involved in laundering almost 100 million euros ($123.80 million) for alleged Chinese criminals.

The court said in a written ruling that the investigation stemmed from a separate investigation into China's largest bank, ICBC, which allegedly laundered hundreds of millions of euros for Chinese organised crime groups in Spain through its Madrid branch.

A Caixabank spokesman said the bank, Spain's third largest, denied collaborating with the alleged money launderers or participating in the alleged scheme. An ICBC spokesman in Spain did not immediately respond to a request for comment, though the bank has previously denied any wrongdoing.

The court said Caixabank employees at ten branches in Madrid helped suspected Chinese criminals transfer 99 million euros ($122.48 million) to China and Hong Kong between 2013 and 2015 partly via corresponding banking agreements with ICBC.

The Caixabank employees made the transfers with the "knowledge and collaboration of the top official in charge of compliance at the entity," the court said. The official's name was redacted in the written ruling.

"Caixabank did not implement the necessary anti-money laundering controls, despite knowing the risks," the judge said in the court ruling, adding that the bank did not properly alert Spain's financial intelligence unit to suspicious transfers.

Caixabank shares initially fell slightly after the court issued the ruling but they later reversed their losses.

Caixabank signed corresponding banking agreements with ICBC in 2011 and 2014. The court said Caixabank was responsible for ensuring any clients it received from ICBC were compliant.

A Reuters investigation last year detailed the alleged money laundering scheme involving ICBC following the arrest of seven ICBC executives in Madrid in February 2016.

The High Court last September approved a request from prosecutors to investigate ICBC Europe, whose headquarters is in Luxembourg, for the alleged crime of money laundering. ($1 = 0.8078 euros) (Editing by Jane Merriman)

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