Belgian prosecutors have launched an investigation into the Belgian unit of French payments processor Worldline, following allegations of money laundering activities.  

The probe was triggered by articles in Le Soir and De Standaard, which claimed the company processed payments for firms involved in illegal activities.  

“According to these newspapers, the company allegedly processed payments for companies engaged in illegal activities and for which money laundering regulations were allegedly not respected,” the Brussels Public Prosecutor’s Office said in a statement, as reported by Bloomberg.  

The investigation has been entrusted to the Federal Judicial Police, the statement added.  

The allegations stem from reports by the European Investigative Collaborations network, comprising 21 media outlets across Europe. 

Worldline, in a statement to Reuters, said it has taken note on the probe and wil cooperate with authorities.  

The company also noted that since 2023, it has strengthened merchant risk controls and terminated non-compliant client relationships.  

In Sweden, the Financial Supervisory Authority summoned Worldline for a meeting to address the allegations.  

“Questions about the information described” and “how the company works to ensure that their services cannot be exploited for criminal purposes,” were raised, FSA spokesperson Karin Franck said in an emailed statement to Bloomberg.  

According to Dagens Nyheter, Worldline allegedly moved high-risk clients from its Belgian unit to its Swedish subsidiary after Visa raised concerns.  

Worldline’s CEO, Pierre-Antoine Vacheron, described the media reports as an orchestrated campaign and an “attack” on the company, asserting that Worldline is “fully committed to strict compliance with regulation and risk prevention standards.”