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Specifically, prosecutors are examining the 7.5 million options supposedly given to Apple CEO Steve Jobs at a special meeting October 2001. Apple's own investigation concluded that the meeting never took place and that the options' grant terms were set in December 2001.

With the stock price markedly lower in October than in December, Jobs would have stood to gain around $20 million if the options were granted at the earlier date. As it is, Jobs subsequently gave up the options, as well

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as an earlier grant, in return for 7.5 million shares. Jobs still hold more than five million, worth around $500 million, but Apple has repeatedly claimed that he did not benefit from any backdated stock options.

'Although the investigation found that CEO Steve Jobs was aware or recommended the selection of some favourable grant dates, he did not receive or financially benefit from these grants or appreciate the accounting implications,' the company said last month.

A spokesman for US Attorney in San Francisco, Kevin Ryan, would not confirm reports that the he is focusing his investigation on two former Apple employees, Wendy Howell, a lawyer who was dismissed last month, and one-time general counsel Nancy Heinen who left suddenly in May. According to the Wall Street Journal, Howell has told the investigation that Heinen ordered her to change option dates.

Heinen declined to comment, but her lawyer said in a statement that she had not participated in options backdating.