Searches at Deutsche Bank in Frankfurt and Berlin. "Suspicious activities of Abramovich reported"
The investigation concerns "managers and employees, as yet unknown, of the institution" suspected of money laundering
Agents of the German Federal Criminal Investigation Department carried out a raid at Deutsche Bank this morning, with searches at the head office in Frankfurt and at a branch in Berlin. This was written der Spiegel on its portal. The investigation by the Frankfurt public prosecutor's office concerns 'managers and employees, as yet unknown, of the institution' suspected of money laundering.
According to information published in Der Spiegel and Süddeutsche Zeitung (Sz), the ongoing investigation is linked to Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich. The former owner of the Chelsea football club has been sanctioned by the EU since March 2022 in connection with Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine and was a client of Deutsche Bank. According to information provided by Sz, the bank failed to file one or more suspicious activity reports concerning the companies of Abramovich in a timely manner.
The bank's shares fell sharply on the stock exchange after the news broke: in Frankfurt, the bank's stock dropped 2.8 per cent to EUR 32.48.
"We confirm that the Frankfurt Public Prosecutor's Office is present in our offices," a spokesperson said in an e-mailed note. "The bank is cooperating fully with the public prosecutor's office. We cannot make any further statements."
Tomorrow morning Deutsche Bank will present data for the fourth quarter and full year 2025.
