Corruption Officials Probe Moldovan Bank Over Magnitsky Case

Russian lawyer Sergei Magnitsky died in custody in 2009.

A Moldovan bank is under investigation for alleged involvement in a money-laundering scheme linked to a Russian tax fraud case pursued by the late lawyer Sergei Magnitsky.

Magnitsky died in prison in 2009 after he implicated Russian officials in an alleged $230 million scheme to defraud the government.

Moldovan officials said on February 11 that the National Anticorruption Center was looking into allegations that some of the Russian fraud money was wired through a local bank to multiple accounts in other countries.

A spokesman said the probe was launched in December.

He did not provide further details.

Authorities in Austria, Cyprus, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Switzerland are also investigating allegations that local banks were involved in the suspected money-laundering scheme.

Magnitsky's death in custody has led to increased tensions in U.S.-Russia relations.

Based on reporting by Reuters, Bloomberg, and EUObserver