French magistrates on Tuesday questioned al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden's half-brother, Yeslam bin Laden, as part of an ongoing probe into an alleged money laundering scam involving the transfer in 2000 to Pakistan of 300 million dollars from a Swiss bank account, which investigators suspect were destined to fund terrorist activities, French judicial sources said.

Yeslam, who has a Swiss passport, and who has so far not been formally charged with any offence, told public prosecutor Renaud Van Ruymbeke that he was not aware of the transfer of funds, and claimed he had not seen Osama bin Laden since 1981. The investigation began on 5 December, 1981.

Yeslam's questioning on Tuesday followed accusations by private investigator Jean-Charles Brisard, who was engaged by the relations of victims of the 11 September 2001 attacks on the United States. The 300 million dollar transfer was allegedly made via bank draft from a Deutsche Bank account in Geneva in the name of 'Cambridge Engineering' to 'Saudi Bank Group', founded by Osama bin Laden's father, according to Brisard.

French magistrates are investigating the possible involvement of the 'Saudi Investment Company' headed by Yeslam. They have already requested documents and information on three firms and two Swiss banks via international rogotary - a procedure by which a court in one country may obtain from another jurisdiction material deemed relevant to an investigation.

Allah, Odin und die Schatten der Unterwelt
Report On Islamists, The Far Right, And Al Taqwa