Nation IN BRIEF : GEORGIA : Former CIA Chief’s BCCI Link Probed

Former CIA Director Richard Helms aided a failed 1978 attempt to take over First American Bank of Washington on behalf of the Bank of Credit & Commerce International, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. It said court records in Atlanta show that Helms assisted Iranian millionaire Rahim Irvani, who served as chairman of an offshore company created in 1978 to hide BCCI’s role in the attempted takeover. The copyrighted story said U.S. Senate investigators are examining dealings between Helms and Irvani. Helms, who was no longer with the CIA when he allegedly helped Irvani, could not be reached for comment.