Deutsche Bank: Fitschen Now Included in Prosecutor's Kirch Probe

Deutsche Bank AG (DB) Monday said a Munich state prosecutor's investigation into alleged false court statements in the Kirch Group case now also examines the conduct of the bank's co-Chief Executive Juergen Fitschen, in addition to former board members of the bank.

Deutsche Bank rejects any allegations of wrongdoing by Mr. Fitschen.

"The bank is absolutely convinced that this suspicion will prove to be unfounded," Deutsche Bank said in an emailed statement in response to a report in Spiegel Online magazine.

According to the bank statement, the Munich prosecutor's office has notified Mr. Fitschen that he is now also being included in the probe, which started at the end of 2011.

State prosecutors allege that several former Deutsche Bank board members agreed in advance on what to testify in court and deliberately provided incorrect information in court to block the Kirch group's legal demands. The former board members have rejected the allegations.

The Kirch Media group is holding Deutsche Bank responsible for its collapse in 2002 and is demanding billions of euros in compensation. Both parties have been in a decade-long legal dispute over the bank's possible involvement in the company's insolvency.

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