Zurich - Geneva's public prosecutor searched the premises of HSBC Holdings in Geneva on Wednesday and said it had opened a criminal inquiry into allegations of aggravated money laundering.
"A search is currently underway in the premises of the bank, led by Attorney General Olivier Jornot and the prosecutor Yves Bertossa," Geneva's prosecutor said in a statement.
HSBC, Europe's biggest bank, apologised to customers and investors on Sunday for past practices at its Swiss private bank following allegations that it helped hundreds of clients dodge taxes.