Prosecutors in Italy are seeking to put a branch of the Chinese bank, and hundreds of Chinese nationals, on trial for various offences.

Italian prosecutors have asked for 300 Chinese nationals and the Bank of China's Milan branch to be tried for money laundering and tax evasion, according to media reports.

The prosecutors – based in Tuscany – made the request following an investigation into criminal networks in the region, reports said.

The investigation, dubbed "River of Money", began in 2008 and focused on money transferred to China.  That money, prosecutors claim, comes from use of illegal labour, counterfeiting money and tax evasion.

Those under investigation are accused of using what is called the Money2Money (M2M) transfer service to send money from several Italian cities, with Bank of China receiving over €750,000 (S$1.1 million) in commissions.

The case will now go before a judge for a decision on whether to press charges.