An HSBC clerk who attempted to steal £72m while working in the bank’s Canary Wharf headquarters has been sentenced to nine years in prison for conspiracy to defraud and money laundering.

Jagmeet Channa had sent €60m (£47.7m) to one of Société Générale's trading accounts in Morocco and minutes later wired €30m to a Barclays branch in Manchester.

Channa is thought to have followed orders of fellow conspirators and expected a substantial sum of money for carrying out the crime. But the clerk forgot the account he used had to show a zero balance at the end of each day, so a massive debit figure became obvious to HSBC workers in Malaysia who informed HSBC’s headquarters in London.

"This was no silly prank. This was a carefully planned and very serious attempt to transfer a fortune in money away, and it almost succeeded,” said Judge Geoffrey Rivlin QC when sentencing him.

"Others were involved, perhaps several others, and in the absence of any explanation from you, I must assume this was a planned and sophisticated criminal enterprise.”

Channa’s attack meant both bank accounts involved were soon frozen and the cash was quickly returned, but apparently the interest on the funds removed would exceed £50,000.

It is understood that the Barclays account is still being investigated amid suspicions that it is linked with other frauds and that further charges are expected.