Fifa 'bribe' funnelled via HSBC in Hong Kong came from US bank fined for link to Colombian drug cartel
Payment allegedly funnelled via HSBC in HK linked to US lender fined for cartel ties
Hong Kong's role in the growing corruption scandal engulfing world soccer has taken a new twist after it emerged that alleged bribes funnelled to a top Fifa official through an HSBC bank account in the city came from a bank in the US once linked to a Colombian drug cartel.
New details of the alleged bribe to Fifa official Costas Takkas - who remains under arrest in Switzerland pending extradition to the US - come as a global inter-governmental body which oversees the anti-money laundering efforts of member states, including Hong Kong, told the "red flags" should have been raised over transactions linked to Fifa.
Earlier this week US Justice Department officials claimed an HSBC bank account in Hong Kong was one of a number used to funnel millions of dollars in bribes to Fifa officials.
It is now known that in 2003 the bank named in documents released by US investigators, Delta National Bank and Trust Company, pleaded guilty to failing to report transactions linked to a Colombian drug cartel.
It is understood US regulatory officials are taking a renewed interest in Delta National.
Yesterday a spokesman for HSBC in Hong Kong did not answer specific questions about why the payments from the Miami-based bank were not flagged, given the bank's history.
