(ANSA) - Rome, February 18 - Swiss prosecutors on Wednesday
raided offices of the Geneva subsidiary of British-based HSBC
bank in an inquiry into alleged money-laundering.
Investigators said they were investigating the Swiss unit
of the world's second-biggest bank, HSBC Private Bank (Suisse),
and "persons unknown for suspected aggravated money laundering".
The investigation could be extended to people suspected of
committing or participating in money laundering.
HSBC said it was "co-operating with the Swiss authorities".
The raid comes just over a week after allegations first
emerged that HSBC's Swiss private bank may have helped wealthy
clients evade tax.
HSBC published a full-page advert in several weekend papers
containing an apology over the claims made by whistleblower
Hervé Falciani.
Swiss raid HSBC offices
Suspected money laundering