According to investigations by the “Bild am Sonntag,” an employee of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) allegedly provided confidential information from the anti-money laundering authority to the Arab Miri-Clan for several months. The public prosecutor’s office in Bremen confirmed, in response to an inquiry, a criminal investigation into a FIU employee on suspicion of bribery.
Public Prosecutor’s Office in Bremen Investigates an FIU Employee on Suspicion of Bribery
The authorities kept the affair secret for almost a year. As reported by “BamS,” a raid took place at the FIU in Cologne-Ossendorf on 9th March 2023. Customs investigators from Hamburg apprehended Alexandros P. The 32-year-old had been working in the “Operative Analysis” department of the FIU since spring 2022. During a search of his apartment, the investigators, as reported by “BamS,” seized evidence. Allegedly, P. had copied confidential documents related to the Miri-Clan onto his computer. Additionally, he apparently used his access rights to make queries in the Central Aliens Register.
The public prosecutor’s office in Bremen is also investigating another young man. He is suspected of bribing P. for the information. According to “BamS,” drug investigators traced P. after his name was mentioned during a phone surveillance operation in the Miri-Clan environment.
At the FIU, reports of suspicions from banks, notaries, and jewelers (e.g. very large cash payments) are examined and processed. The FIU subsequently refers serious cases to the relevant state criminal investigation offices. However, in the past, the high number of pending suspicion cases has sparked criticism of the authority.
