MAY.12, 2010, 2:59 P.M. ET

MOSCOW—Russian metals tycoon Oleg Deripaska met Wednesday in Moscow with Spanish investigators, a spokesman for Mr. Deripaska said.

The businessman, who is chief executive and the largest shareholder of aluminum giant UC Rusal, was questioned as a witness in connection with a money-laundering probe, according to a person familiar with the situation.

"Some months ago, Deripaska learned his name had been mentioned in connection with the Spanish investigation," his spokesman said Wednesday. "Deripaska has no links to the companies named in the investigation, and is happy to provide whatever assistance he can in this matter."

Last fall, Spanish media reported that local investigators were seeking to question Mr. Deripaska in a probe into alleged money-laundering by Russian organized-crime groups in Spain. At the time, Mr. Deripaska said he had had no official communications from Spanish investigators and asked Russian prosecutors to make an official request for information about the case.

Wednesday, a spokeswoman for Russia's prosecutor general's office confirmed that it had assisted the Spanish investigators, but declined to provide further details. A spokesman for Spain's National Courts, which is conducting the investigation, declined to comment.

One of Russia's wealthiest men, Mr. Deripaska has been dogged by allegations of links to organized crime. He has denied the allegations and has never been convicted of a crime.