ZURICH, Switzerland, June 17 (UPI) -- Swiss prosecutors are investigating possible money-laundering related to FIFA corruption by reviewing Swiss bank reports, which could take years to dissect.
Investigators gathered nine terabytes of "suspicious banking relations" data. FIFA President Sepp Blatter and Secretary General Jerome Valcke could be interviewed as part of the process, according to Swiss Federal Prosecutor Michael Lauber.
"There will be formal interviews of all relevant people. By definition, this does not exclude interviewing the president of FIFA and/or its secretary general," Lauber said in a press conference Wednesday. "We note positively that banks in Switzerland did fulfill their duties to file suspicious activity reports. Partly in addition to the 104 banking relations already known to the authorities, banks announced 53 suspicious banking relations via the anti-money-laundering framework of Switzerland. The procedure is huge and complex on many levels."
FIFA has been embroiled in chaos and controversy since late May after the U.S. Justice Department charged 14 FIFA officials and corporate executives of "racketeering, wire fraud and money-laundering conspiracies, among other offenses, in connection with the defendants' participation in a 24-year scheme to enrich themselves through the corruption of international soccer."
High-ranking FIFA officials, including Blatter, FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke and former FIFA Vice President Jack Warner, have come under legal scrutiny by the FBI and Swiss authorities.
Lauber said the Swiss investigation is executed independently from the FBI and documents and data will not be shared automatically. He also said the investigation could take years to conclude.
"The world of football needs to be patient. By its nature, this investigation will take more than the legendary 90 minutes," Lauber said.
