SocGen defends itself ahead of money laundering trial

By Sudip Kar-Gupta

PARIS, Feb 3 (Reuters) - Societe Generale laid out its defence ahead of a high-profile money laundering trial due to begin in Paris on Monday, which could put further pressure on the French bank as it grapples with the effects of a trading scandal.

SocGen (SOGN.PA: Quote, Profile, Research) reiterated it had not taken part in any money laundering.

"Neither the bank, nor its employees have knowingly participated in any money-laundering transaction," SocGen said in a statement on Sunday.

SocGen is one of four banks due to appear at the Paris criminal court in the trial known as "Sentier 2", due to its links with the capital's Sentier textile district.

The other three banks in the case are HSBC (HSBA.L: Quote, Profile, Research) unit Societe Marseillaise de Credit (SMC), Barclays France (BARC.L: Quote, Profile, Research) and National Bank of Pakistan.

SocGen Chairman Daniel Bouton and three other officials at the bank are due to appear at the Paris criminal court in connection with the case.

In July 2006, a French magistrate ruled that more than 130 bankers should face money laundering charges in connection with an alleged cheque scam in the late 1990s.

The alleged money laundering took place between 1996 and 2001 in the Sentier area of the city and involved stolen or fraudulent cheques shuttled between France and Israel.