Ex-Olympus CEO says in contact with FBI

Federal Bureau of Investigation

"I'm in contact with the FBI, but I'm not prepared to elaborate further than that," Michael Woodford told Reuters. Since being ousted as CEO, Woodford has called on authorities in both Britain and Japan to investigate the payments.

The 51-year-old also said that the original "whistleblower" whose questions in Japanese monthly magazine Facta prompted him to investigate the payments, had been in touch with him via an intermediary.

The deepening scandal has wiped out more than half of the camera and endoscope maker's market value and prompted irate shareholders to call on the board for answers.

(Reporting by Kirstin Ridley and Alexander Smith)