In 2015 the number of citizens of Ukraine, suspected of money laundering in Austria, increased four times, Correspondent.net reports.

The record number of claims on suspecting Ukrainian citizens of money laundering was fixed in Austria, DW reports in Austrian Federal Criminal Police Department. According to its data, within 2015 the Austria’s banks informed law enforcement bodies about doubtful transactions on accounts of 197 citizens of Ukraine in total.    

Therefore, the number of Ukrainians, suspected of money laundering, increased four times versus 2014 when 48 cases were fixed. Last year the financial institutions suspected 41 Ukrainians in money laundering. Meanwhile, the number of claims about possible violations of RF citizens in 2015 remained virtually unchanged (208 cases).

According to the report of Federal Criminal Police Department, in 2015 about 1.8 thousand cases of probable money laundering, which is by 120 more than in 2014. Thus, if it was not for the number of claims on transactions on accounts of Ukrainians, the total number of such cases would decrease for the first time for so many years in Austria.  

As DW reported at the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Austria, currently the law enforcement bodies of Ukraine investigate 14 criminal cases against Ukrainians, suspected of money laundering. In 2015 none of Ukrainians came before the Austrian court on a charge with money laundering, while at the same time 24 requests on provision of legal assistance were submitted to Ukraine. Previously, in 2013-2014, the Austrian courts considered cases on suspicion of money laundering against two Ukrainians, one of which is an ex-convict.