Jun.20, 2010

THE bank controlled by Hearts owner Vladimir Romanov is at the centre of a £1.4BILLION money-laundering probe.

Lithuanian-based Ukio Bankas - who sponsor the Tynecastle side - were reported to authorities by Belgian financial giant ING over a string of transactions in two accounts opened by them.

And anti-corruption cops are said to have discovered 1.7billion euros of alleged dirty money moved though the two ING accounts by 460 companies.

It's claimed that by the time the transactions had been uncovered, the enormous sums of cash had already been dispersed throughout the world's financial markets.

Belgian authorities are now probing the deals, and Interpol also have a team investigating Ukio's activities.

A banking insider revealed: "The sums involved are colossal.

"Some Russian banks have lost their licences over links to money laundering, so Ukio will have to prove they acted legally thoughout this."

A football finance source added: "Although Hearts are sponsored by Ukio Bankas, their owners are Romanov's offshore firm, Ukio Bankas Investment Group.

"But all Romanov's operations are intertwined, and it's impossible to know what effect, if any, this could have on UBIG.

"What is certain is that Hearts owe Romanov's companies over £35million, so he is the key to their very existence.

"In a nutshell, anything that's bad news for Romanov is bad news for Hearts."

The controversial soccer boss, 62, is the largest single shareholder in Ukio Bankas and effectively holds a controlling interest through his relatives, sidekicks and other companies.

And the latest probe is NOT the first time the bank has been caught up in money laundering claims.

In January 2009, tax officials in Lithuania revealed plans to seize almost £14million of dirty money from Ukio accounts.

And last month Kaunas District Court ordered ANOTHER £7million lodged with Ukio Bankas should be passed to the state.