Beijing, China - Beijing on Monday said that an employee of US bank Wells Fargo was barred from leaving China over an ongoing "criminal case."

The confirmation follows reports last week that Shanghai-born managing director Chenyue Mao had been placed under an exit ban.

Wells Fargo confirmed to the AFP last week that it was assisting Chenyue in any way it can, but that she was currently unable to leave China.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Monday that Mao was "involved in a criminal case currently being investigated by the Chinese authorities."

China US to build Philippines boat repair facilities close to disputed South China Sea territory

China Marco Rubio meets with China's Wang on sidelines of ASEAN talks amid looming tariff deadline

Chinese authorities have provided no details on the alleged offense, and Wells Fargo has also refrained from revealing the charges Chenyue may face or any timeline on how things might proceed.

"The Chinese law enforcement agencies have imposed exit restrictions in accordance with the law," Guo said, adding that Chenyue "cannot leave the country while the case is ongoing, and has an obligation to cooperate with the work of investigators."

In a statement to AFP on Friday, Wells Fargo confirmed that it was "closely tracking this situation and working through the appropriate channels so our employee can return to the United States as soon as possible."

Reports suggest that the San Francisco-based bank is now restricting its employees from visiting China.

Guo said that Mao's case was an "individual" incident and reassured business leaders that China would "continue as ever to welcome people from every country to travel and do business here."

"No matter whether you are Chinese or not, you must follow Chinese laws while in China," he said.