The Journal says that it has seen documents, handed over by a tipster, suggesting that the vendor may have been running the Syrian unit, potentially violating sanctions introduced by the US government last summer as Syria descended into violence.

The subsidiary may also have carried out business with two Syrian banks blacklisted by the US for links to the regime, says the WSJ.

E-mails show that NCR has brought in law firm Cravath Swaine & Moore to investigate and a spokesman told the Journal that, although there are some doubts about the validity and accuracy of the allegations, the firm takes them "very seriously".

NCR's Subsidiary in Syria Accused of Sanctions Lapse - WSJ