06/02/2002

FBI called in as AIB Group's US subsidiary loses $750M

The trader who is at the centre of a $750 million fraud at Allied Irish Banks' US subsidiary has voluntarily met with the FBI.

John Rusnak, who was earlier thought to be on the run had, according to his lawyers been staying with his family in Baltimore.

The FBI were called in to investigate the massive fraud after one of its foreign exchange traders failed to turn up for work and it was noticed $750 million (£529 million) was unaccounted for.

Mr Rusnak's lawyers have denied that the 37-year-old father of two has stolen any money from his employers.

This latest turn in events comes after AIB announced they were launching "a full investigation" in cooperation with the FBI following the revelation that millions of dollars had been siphoned from the Baltimore headquarters of the corporation's US subsidiary - Allfirst.

Speaking on Wednesday Group chief executive Michael Buckley said: "We are hugely disappointed that our Allfirst control procedures failed to uncover this situation at an earlier stage. The Group’s underlying business and profitability momentum is not impaired by this once-off blow. Our capital adequacy continues to be strong."

John Rusnak, the alleged author of this "complex" fraud was at work on Friday February 1 and had been with the company for seven years. He is described as a US passport holder in his 40s, married with two children and was said to be in an $85,000-a-year post.

The fraud is not expected to have any long-term effects on the group, which had anticipated almost €1.5 billion pre-audit profits. But investigators will be asking Allfirst Treasury why control procedures designed to net this kind of fraud failed to prevent $750 million (£529 million) disappearing from the company's books.

The executive vice president and treasurer of Allfirst, two senior vice presidents and two other staff members have been suspended pending completion of the investigation.

Allfirst is one of the top 50 banks in America and has about 250 branches, outlets and banking facilities, and the AIB USA division employs over 6000 people.

(GMcG)

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