FILE PHOTO: The logo of BNP Paribas bank is pictured on an office building in Nantes, France, July 21, 2017. REUTERS/Stephane Mahe PARIS (Reuters) - French judicial investigators have opened a full-scale inquiry into allegations of complicity in the 1994 Rwandan genocide, an official at the public prosecutor’s office said on Monday. BNP Paribas bank, accused by non-governmental organisations of complicity over a transfer of $1.3 million (961,182.99 pounds) to an arms dealer, said the move was expected and not a surprise. “This in no way constitutes a new development,” a BNP spokeswoman said. The full-scale inquiry follows a preliminary investigation that began earlier this year, when three non-government organisations filed a complaint on the matter. In France, the opening of a full-scale inquiry does not imply guilt and does not automatically lead to a trial. It does imply that investigators believe the complaint or information gleaned during initial inquiries merits further investigation. Reporting by Emmanuel Jarry; Writing by Brian Love
BNP Paribas is facing an inquiry by French investigators into allegations that the banking group was involved in the Rwandan genocide in Rwanda , according to an announcement by the public prosecutor ’s office on Monday . The bank has been accused by prosecutors of facilitating the transfer of $ 500 m to an arms dealer . The investigation comes after the commencement of a preliminary investigation earlier in the year . Under French law , such an inquiry neither implies guilt or guarantees a trial . “ This in no way constitutes a new development ” , said a spokeswoman for the inquiry .