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Spanish police arrest 6th Chinese bank exec in fraud probe China expresses concern to Spain over bank fraud probe
(about 1 hour later)
MADRID — Spanish police say they have arrested a sixth executive of China’s ICBC bank as part of a money laundering and tax fraud probe. MADRID — A senior Chinese government official met Friday with a representative of the Spanish embassy in Beijing to express a “high level of concern” over a money laundering and tax fraud probe of China’s ICBC bank in Madrid that has led to six arrests.
Police said the senior employee previously worked in the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China’s offices in Madrid but now works in the Luxembourg branch. He was arrested Friday in Madrid. A Foreign Ministry statement said Deputy Foreign Minister Liu Xing told embassy official Jose Luis Garcia Galan that China hopes Spain will deal with the case in a lawful manner and guarantee the legal rights and interests of Chinese businesses and personnel in Spain.
Police raided the ICBC’s downtown Madrid office on Wednesday and arrested five executives. They were expected to be brought before court Friday. It said Garcia Galan responded that Spain would conduct an impartial investigation, guarantee the rights of those concerned, and deal with the case “cautiously and appropriately” to avoid damage to cooperation between the sides.
A police statement said the operation was a follow-up on one in 2015 that targeted gangs using the bank to launder to China some 40 million euros ($45 million) proceeding from the Chinese-run bargain store sector in Spain. China expressed similar concern over the case Wednesday after police raided the ICBC’s downtown Madrid office and arrested five executives. The individuals were expected to be brought before court Friday.
Spanish police on Friday arrested a sixth executive of Industrial and Commercial Bank of China as part of the probe.
The police said the operation was a follow-up on one in 2015 that targeted gangs using the bank to launder to China some 40 million euros ($45 million) proceeding from Chinese-run bargain stores in Spain.
The sixth detainee previously worked in ICBC’s offices in Madrid but now works in the Luxembourg branch, police said. He was arrested in Madrid.
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Christopher Bodeen in Beijing contributed to this report.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.