Police searched the offices of Deutsche Bank, Germany's biggest bank. This happened on Tuesday. The searches are part of an investigation into money laundering. Officials from the prosecutor's office and the police were at the bank's locations in Frankfurt and Berlin.
The investigation is about old business deals. These deals involved foreign companies. These companies might have helped move illegal money. The prosecutor's office has not shared many details. They did not say who was involved or how much money was moved.
German news reports suggest a possible link to Roman Abramovich. He is a Russian businessman. The UK and EU placed sanctions on him in March 2022. Reports say the bank may have processed money for people connected to Abramovich. However, officials have not confirmed this.
A lawyer for Mr. Abramovich denied he knew about any investigation. The lawyer said Mr. Abramovich follows all laws. He also said any other suggestion is false. This statement is very different from the police searches.
Deutsche Bank has had problems with rules before. It has faced accusations about not stopping money laundering well. The bank has paid big fines. It has also tried to improve its systems. This new investigation looks at more recent or deeper issues. It makes people wonder if the bank's new rules are working.
The police involvement shows this is a serious matter. The focus on foreign companies means they are looking at past money transfers. The possible link to Roman Abramovich adds a political aspect. More information is expected in the coming weeks. The bank has not yet made an official statement.