PARIS, March 16: The French justice ministry say it is investigating possible money laundering by financial interests linked to the family of Osama bin Laden.

The investigations concern several companies associated with SICO (Saudi Investment Company), the Geneva-based group, that is headed by Yeslam bin Laden, a half-brother of Osama bin Laden, which manages a large part of the holdings of Binladin Group, which was founded by the father of Osama bin Laden.

The group is especially present in the power and construction sectors, and besides building super-highways and airports, has notably expanded mosques located at Makkah and Medina.

The decision to undertake the investigation comes in the wake of the determination by the French Finance Ministry that several subsidiaries controlled by SICO in France appeared to be laundering money.

Osama bin Laden’s half-brother Yeslam had denied last Fall any involvement in money-laundering or support of terrorism, indeed affirmed that there existed no links at all between his financial interests and the activities of Osama bin Laden.