Reported by Jonathan Browning

An ex-Austrian bank chief wanted in the US over his alleged role in a giant Brazilian corruption scandal lost a bid to halt his extradition from the UK.

Peter Weinzierl, the former chief executive officer of Meinl Bank AG, had attempted to argue in a London court that he was “lured” to the UK by a CIA agent and arrested on “fabricated charges.” But the judge disagreed, ruling on Monday that Weinzierl could be sent to face a US trial. 

The banker is suspected of taking part in the massive Odebrecht SA corruption scheme, which saw hundreds of millions of dollars of bribes funneled to officials to win business across Latin America. Federal prosecutors say Weinzierl and another official helped move about $170 million from accounts in New York through Meinl Bank to offshore shell accounts.

Weinzierl denied the allegations related to Odebrecht and his lawyer said he planned an appeal. Weinzierl had argued that US officials were more interested in information about money laundering in Russia and Ukraine.

The banker was arrested at a London airfield after piloting his private plane into the country in May 2021.

Read full report: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-06-05/banking-chief-loses-bid-to-block-us-extradition-over-brazilian-money-laundering#xj4y7vzkg