New York Attorney-General Eliot Spitzer has amended his office’s complaint against former AIG executives Maurice Greenberg and Howard Smith.

Mr Spitzer has dropped two of the seven civil charges filed in May last year, and lawyers for the two men say it won’t be long before the remaining accusations are also shelved.

Mr Greenberg and Mr Smith are accused of knowingly committing fraud in a series of sham insurance transactions. The Chief of Mr Spitzer’s Investment Protection Bureau, David Brown, says the remaining charges will be vigorously prosecuted.

“These changes are housekeeping matters that will streamline the case as we prepare for trial,” he said. “They have no bearing on the core of our claims against Mr Greenberg and Mr Smith.”

The dropped charges followed a payment by AIG of US1.64 billion ($2.18 billion) in compensation.