Barclays to pay out £190m to settle US case

BARCLAYS Bank has agreed to pay 298 million dollars (£190m) over criminal allegations that it illegally engaged in financial transactions with banks in Cuba, Iran, Libya, Sudan and Burma, the US Justice Department said.
By The Newsroom
Published 17th Aug 2010, 10:47 BST

The countries are all under economic and trade sanctions by the US government.

Barclays and the justice department entered into a deferred prosecution agreement that will delay any criminal proceedings for two years while Barclays demonstrates to federal prosecutors that it is complying with US laws.

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The bank was accused of violating the Trading with the Enemy Act and the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.

The bank will pay 149 million dollars to the United States and an additional 149 million dollars under an agreement with the Manhattan district attorney's office in New York.

According to court papers, Barclays concealed the transactions that it carried out with banks in the sanctioned countries from 1995 to 2006.

The bank violated US and New York state criminal laws by allowing the movement of hundreds of millions of dollars through the US financial system on behalf of banks from Cuba, Iran, Libya, Sudan, and Burma, the court papers stated.

The US government and Barclays will present their proposed agreement to a federal judge for recommended approval.

Related topics:BarclaysCubaIranSudanNew York