A public prosecutor's office said on Monday it was opening a preliminary investigation into the 2022 transfer of France full-back Melvyn Jaminet's to Toulouse from Perpignan.

Jaminet made the move to the 22-times French champions a year after winning the first of his 20 Test appearances.

The 26-year-old has since moved to Toulon.

Toulouse have already paid 1.3 million euros ($1.5 million) to the French league (LNR), which runs the Top 14, to end an inquiry into a possible breach of the Top 14 salary cap.

According to newspaper L'Equipe, Jaminet took out two loans to buy out his 450,000-euro release clause at Perpignan.

That allowed Toulouse to avoid including the money in their salary cap allowance.

Jaminet was never repaid the sum but the club came to a financial agreement with the player in April.

A company called Purple Heart reportedly acted an an intermediary in the transfer.

The Toulouse prosecutor's office told AFP their financial crime division was initiating an investigation into "the conditions surrounding the creation and execution of the contract concluded between Toulouse and the company Pacific Heart."

Toulouse told AFP they were glad an investigation had been opened saying they and Jaminet were the victims of "embezzlement".

Even though the club have paid money to the LNR in March, they face a disciplinary hearing on December 8 and could suffer heavy penalties, such as a points deduction for the current season.