The offices of Germany‘s leading bank, Deutsche Bank, have been raided as part of a money laundering investigation linked to billionaire businessman Roman Abramovich.
Frankfurt prosecutors said on Wednesday that the searches were part of a probe into executives and bank employees on suspicion of money laundering and related offences under Germany’s Money Laundering Act.
They added that Deutsche Bank had previously maintained business relationships with foreign companies that were suspected of having been used for money laundering purposes.
The bank confirmed on Wednesday that prosecutors in Frankfurt were investigating its offices, adding that it was ‘cooperating fully with prosecutors.’
Deutsche Bank’s statement comes after local media reported that the investigation is connected to suspected offences in the bank’s dealings with companies linked to Abramovich.
The Russian oligarch has been sanctioned by the EU following Vladimir Putin‘s invasion of Ukraine.
German daily newspaper, Sueddeutsche Zeitung, said the raids took place at the bank’s headquarters in Frankfurt and its Berlin offices, adding that the bank was being investigated on suspicion of not reporting possible money laundering promptly.
A Deutsche Bank spokesperson told Daily Mail: ‘We confirm that the Frankfurt public prosecutor’s office is on site in our offices. The bank is cooperating fully with the public prosecutor’s office. We cannot comment further.’
The offices of Germany’s leading bank, Deutsche Bank, have been raided as part of a money laundering investigation linked to billionaire businessman Roman Abramovich. Pictured: Abramovich attends the UEFA Women’s Champions League final soccer match against FC Barcelona in Gothenburg, Sweden, May 16, 2021
An office building of Deutsche Bank stands on January 28, 2026 in Berlin, Germany. Police investigators have raided Deutsche Bank offices in Frankfurt and Berlin
Abramovich was forced to sell Premier League club Chelsea after he was sanctioned by the UK for his connection to Putin following Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Before the sale in 2022, the Russian billionaire said that he would set up a war victims’ charity, but he hasn’t followed through.
Last month, Abramovich was given a final chance by the UK government to turn over the £2.5billion that he promised to give Russia’s victims from the sale of his football club.
‘The clock is ticking on Roman Abramovich to honour the commitment he made when Chelsea FC was sold,’ Prime Minister Keir Starmer said back in December.
‘This government is prepared to enforce it through the courts, so that every penny reaches those whose lives have been torn apart by Putin’s illegal war.’
The funds are frozen, but still belong to Abramovich, and negotiations have failed to reach an agreement on their release.
Abramovich, who bought Chelsea in 2003, sold the club to a consortium fronted by Americans Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital.
Chelsea won the Champions League twice and the Premier League five times — among other titles — during Abramovich’s time as owner.