Deutsche Bank (DB) Chief Executive Christian Sewing approved a 1.5 billion euro ($1.73 billion) transaction with UniCredit in 2010 that he later examined in an internal probe linked to a Monte dei Paschi case, the Financial Times reported Tuesday, citing sources familiar with the matter.

The enhanced repo deal, similar to a 2.2 billion euros 2008 transaction with Monte dei Paschi, was reportedly later restated as a derivatives trade.

Sewing led an audit in 2013 as head of internal audit, which became central to an Italian trial that initially convicted six former Deutsche bankers before they were acquitted on appeal, the media outlet reported.

The lender reportedly said Sewing had assessed the credit risk of the UniCredit deal, but that his audit focused on areas unrelated to his prior role.

The audit reviewed 87 enhanced repo trades with 22 counterparties, over 30 of which were restated, the news outlet reported.

Deutsche Bank and UniCredit did not immediately respond to MT Newswires' request for comment.

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