money quickly in and out of an account is similar to what money laundrers do. reporter: and there was a lot of money involved, including $1.9 million to buy a ukrainian media company from this man, who state department officials described as two to three oligarchs putin turns to on a regular basis. he played a critical role in the trump campaign, was involved in potentially involved in receiving payments from russian oligarch. this raises a lot of questions. reporter: manafort has repeatedly said he never worked for the russian government. and on you tuesday deripaska called it fake news. but in cyprus, which claims to have tightened financial controls over the last few years, manafort s accounts raised suspicions. in 2012, the internal auditing
one of these accounts and left it on the same day. movements of large amounts of money very quickly in and out of an account is very similar to what money launderers do. and there was a lot of mon involved, including $18.9 million to buy a ukrainian media company for oleg daraposka who was one of two to three oligarchs putin turns to on a regular basis. documents show some of that money went to a manafort-linked company in cyprus. he took out an ad in national newspapers denying the associated press report that he hired manafort to help the putin government, calling it fake news. but eventually even in cyprus manafort s accounts raised suspicions. in 2012 the internal auditing system at laiki bank flagged
department officials describe as one of two of three oligarch manafort turns to. played a critical role, was involved in potentially receiving payments from russian oligarch. this raises a lot of very serious questions. manafort has repeatedly said he never worked for the russian government and on tuesday deripaska took out an ad strongly denying the press report he hired manafort to help the government calling it fake news. in cypress, which claims to have tightened financial controls over the last few years manafort s accounts raised suspicions. in 2012 the interim auditing system at laiki bank flagged some of the accounts for possible money laundering. according to sources when the bank asked for more information, manafort chose to close the accounts. in a statement to nbc news, a
the sources say in one case a million dollars landed in one of these accounts and left it on the same day. movements of large amounts of money very quickly in and out of accounts is very similar to what money launderers do. reporter: and there was a lot of money involved, including $18.9 million to buy a ukrainian media company for this man, who according to wikileaks state department officials described as one of two to three oligarchs putin turns to on a regular basis. documents from a legal action show that some of that money weapon to a mftd-linked company in cypress. today that man took outan ad in national newspapers denying the associated press report that he hired manafort to help the putin government, calling it fake news. but eventually, even in cypress, mftd s accounts raise suspicions. in 2012, the internal auditing
to find out more we came here to cyprus to the city of limassol which has a reputation for beaches and as a hub for money laundering. the city has attracted so many russians, it s been dubbed limassolgrad. this is where some of the money manafort got went. banking sources with direct knowledge of the transactions tell nbc news at least 15 accounts were opened here from more than ten companies all linked to manafort. the sources say that in one case, a million dollars landed in one of these accounts and left it on the same day. movements of large amounts of money very quickly in and out of account is very similar to what money launderers do. eventually even in cyprus, manafort s accounts raised suspicions. in 2012, the internal auditing system at laiki bank flagged some of the accounts for possible money laundering according to the banking sources who also said when the bank asked for more information, manafort chose to close the accounts.