ZURICH, Nov 29 Reuters The Swiss Attorney General39;s Office OAG said on Friday it had indicted private bank Lombard Odier and one of the firm39;s former employees over aggravated money laundering, in a rare charge of such magnitude against one of the country39;s oldest banks.

The bank and its former employee are suspected of having played a decisive role in enabling the concealment of the proceeds of a vehicle set up by Gulnara Karimova, a daughter of the late president of Uzbekistan, Islam Karimov, the OAG said.

The OAG alleges Lombard Odier failed to comply with antimoney laundering standards and its own internal guidelines in opening and managing nine bank accounts under suspicion.

Lombard Odier, which dates back to 1796, said it noted with dismay the OAG39;s decision to bring the charges.

The allegations are unfounded and without merit and are firmly rejected by the bank, it said in a statement.

Karimova, who was indicted by the Swiss OAG last year over alleged participation in a criminal organisation that operated in various countries, including Switzerland, could not immediately be reached for comment.

She has previously denied those allegations.

Karimova is currently in prison in Uzbekistan, after being jailed in 2019 for violating the terms of her house arrest and receiving a sentence in 2015 on charges of embezzlement and extortion. She was handed a further sentence in 2020.

She and another person are suspected of participating in a criminal…