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Former MF Global Exec: Corzine Ordered $200M Transfer

WASHINGTON (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A former MF Global executive is contradicting testimony from Jon Corzine, saying the former New Jersey governor ordered the transfer of $200 million out of a customer account days before the firm collapsed, according to an email obtained by congressional investigators.

WCBS 880's Peter Haskell reports

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Edith O'Brien, the former assistant treasurer, says Corzine ordered the money shifted to one of the firm's bank accounts overseas, according to a memo that cited the email.

A House Financial Services subcommittee released the memo Friday in advance of a hearing Wednesday. O'Brien is scheduled to testify Wednesday.

A representative for Corzine didn't immediately return a telephone call seeking comment.

Corzine has testified he didn't know anything about customer funds being transferred just before the company's collapse.

In December, Corzine told the panel: "I did not instruct anyone to lend customer funds to MF Global or any of its affiliates.'' Corzine also said he didn't know about "the use of customer funds on any loan or transfer.''

Former federal prosecutor Robert Mintz says it's hard to say if Corzine is in real trouble.

"Depending upon how someone answers questions, it can be very difficult to prove perjury," he said.

Mintz says prosecutors will more likely focus on any criminal actions that could be connected to the disappearance of the money.

MF Global collapsed into the eighth-largest bankruptcy in U.S. history after a disastrous bet on European debt. An estimated $1.2 billion in client funds are missing.

No one has been charged in the MF Global case. In addition to Congress, federal regulators and a federal grand jury in Chicago are investigating.

(TM and Copyright 2012 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2012 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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