BNP Paribas has pleaded guilty to criminal charges and agreed to forfeit USD8.83 billion as part of an investigation into allegations the French bank violated U.S. sanctions laws.
A lawyer representing BNP briefly appeared in New York state court to answer one count of falsifying business records, and one count of conspiracy.
One of the prosecutors said BNP engaged in a "long-term, multi-jurisdictional conspiracy" to violate sanctions laws by facilitating transactions involving Sudan, Cuba, and Iran.
