New York Sun: The British bank Barclays is under the scrutiny of New York and federal authorities who are investigating whether the bank violated American sanctions against permitting countries such as Iran and Sudan to access American banks. The New York Sun
By JOSEPH GOLDSTEIN
Staff Reporter of the Sun
The British bank Barclays is under the scrutiny of New York and federal authorities who are investigating whether the bank violated American sanctions against permitting countries such as Iran and Sudan to access American banks.
The bank, in its year-end report released this week, disclosed that it has “received inquiries” from the Manhattan district attorney, Robert Morgenthau, and the United States’ Department of Justice. The bank is cooperating with regulators, according to the report. Federal sanctions attempt to prevent banks in America from handling funds linked to Iran, North Korea, Sudan, and Cuba, and several other countries. Barclays’ disclosure does not indicate on which country or countries the investigations of Mr. Morgenthau or the Justice Department are focused.
The report says that the bank is “conducting an internal review of its conduct with respect to US dollar payments involving countries, persons or entities subject to these sanctions.”
The New York Sun reported in December that Mr. Morgenthau’s office and the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control were investigating whether New York banks had been deceived of the fact that money transfers handled here were ultimately going to or coming from Iran.
Barclays’ disclosure does not indicate that it has received any subpoenas relating to the investigation.
