The Paris prosecutor's office has launched a probe of suspected payments by oil giant Total SA in Iran, judicial officials said Tuesday.
The inquiry was opened Monday and will be led by two investigating magistrates, said the two officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because of laws requiring that details of judicial investigations be kept secret.
They said the judges will aim to determine whether Total made illicit payments relating to a gas contract in Iran, and whether there is sufficient evidence for charges of embezzlement and corrupting foreign officials.
The probe follows a tip-off from authorities in Switzerland, the officials said. They said Swiss judicial authorities have frozen bank accounts belonging to an Iranian-born Swiss national as part of an investigation of suspected money laundering.
Total shares fell 0.9 percent to euro54.50 (US$71.34) in Paris trading.
The inquiry was opened Monday and will be led by two investigating magistrates, said the two officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because of laws requiring that details of judicial investigations be kept secret.
They said the judges will aim to determine whether Total made illicit payments relating to a gas contract in Iran, and whether there is sufficient evidence for charges of embezzlement and corrupting foreign officials.
The probe follows a tip-off from authorities in Switzerland, the officials said. They said Swiss judicial authorities have frozen bank accounts belonging to an Iranian-born Swiss national as part of an investigation of suspected money laundering.
Total shares fell 0.9 percent to euro54.50 (US$71.34) in Paris trading.
Post a Comment