Italy Tax Police See Results Of Authenticity Of US Bonds Soon
"We are expecting U.S. experts to say if the certificates are genuine or not and are also continuing the investigation on the case," the officer said.
Italian authorities said on June 4 they had stopped two alleged Japanese citizens trying to cross into Switzerland with the bonds hiding in the false bottom of a suitcase.
They found 249 certificates worth $500 million each and 10 bonds worth more than $1 billion each as well as other alleged original banking statements.
The U.S. Treasury declined to comment on an ongoing investigation.
An official at Japan's Consulate General in Milan said Tuesday that Italy was still investigating the case, adding it wasn't confirmed that the two men are Japanese.
"We sent a letter asking for further information to the Italian tax police as well as prosecutors," the Japanese official said.
Depending on whether the certificates are genuine, the two men may be put under investigation either for attempting to take out of the country securities without declaring them or for carrying counterfeit bonds.
"If it's the latter, the investigation could last months," the Italian tax police officer said.
-By Sabrina Cohen and Luca Di Leo, Dow Jones Newswires, +39 02 5821 9906; sabrina.cohen@dowjones.com
(Sofia Celeste contributed to this story.)
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Publié le 17 Juin 2009 Copyright © 2009 Dowjones
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