Prosecutors in France are investigating the role that one of the country’s largest banks played in the transfer of $2 million that they believe was a bribe to ensure Rio de Janeiro won the rights to host the 2016 Summer Olympics, according to documents seen and verified by The New York Times.
The documents, which outline the case sent by a French investigator to prosecutors in Brazil, suggest that the bank, Société Générale, might have breached money-laundering regulations.
Société Générale said in a statement that it complies with industry standards pertaining to money laundering regulations and so-called know-your-customer rules, which all major banks are expected to follow.