€65 million seized in Belgium in McKinsey case for tax fraud
The Brussels public prosecutor has seized more than €65 million as part of a Franco-Belgian investigation targeting McKinsey & Company for aggravated money laundering of tax fraud.
Record seizure of €65 million in McKinsey investigation in Belgium
On 19 August, the Brussels public prosecutor's office, Directorate of International and European Affairs, proceeded to seise more than €65 million as part of the investigation targeting McKinsey & Company, according to RTBF Info. This sum corresponds, according to the joint statement from the French and Belgian prosecutors, to "96 per cent of the fiscal harm according to the assessment of the French national financial prosecutor".
The preliminary investigation was opened in March 2022, "following the French Senate commission of inquiry into the growing influence of private consulting firms on public policy". It concerned acts of aggravated money laundering of tax fraud.
Two months after the investigation was opened, in May 2022, searches were conducted at the Paris premises of McKinsey & Company Inc. France. Last year and in 2023, the investigations continued through witness and suspect interviews.
"Following the investigations, the national financial prosecutor requested the assistance of the Brussels public prosecutor's office, within the framework of international judicial cooperation", the joint statement specifies.
The two prosecutors further emphasise that this case illustrates the necessity of a global judicial strategy regarding the seizure and confiscation of criminal assets, "from the detection and freezing of assets".
The preliminary investigation is ongoing.
Source: RTBF Info