Austrian bank official denies Madoff link

LONDON, July 4 (UPI) -- Sonja Kohn claims she was a victim of convicted money manager Bernard Madoff, but British authorities are investigating payments to her companies.

Kohn was a majority owner of the former Bank Medici and was also its chairman. Austrian prosecutors are assisting the British in an investigation into more than $40 million in payments to Kohn. They believe she turned three Bank Medici funds into feeder funds for Madoff. She denies receiving any personal payments, although the Austrian Daily Standard reports she received about $11.5 million for research reports.

Bank Medici surrendered its banking license in March.

Austrian authorities say they are cooperating with the British Serious Fraud Office and the U. S. Justice Department.

A lawyer for the former bank, Clemens Trauttenberg, said both he and his client will cooperate with investigators when they are contacted.