5th May 2019
GUYANA: FORMER CARIBBEAN ANTI-FINANCIAL CRIMES BOSS SAYS REMAINING OFF THE BLACKLIST KEY TO OIL SECTOR
Demerara Waves on 4th May reported that the former Executive Director of the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) has cautioned that if Guyana does not maintain a clean bill of financial health, oil companies and staff would encounter bottlenecks in sending their profits and earnings overseas. Since 2000, most Caribbean countries have been blacklisted by the CFATF, FATF, OECD, the Financial Stability Forum and the EU and other watchdogs; but Guyana has since been taken off the FATF blacklist. However, the former CFATF Executive Director said Guyana has to be prepared for a CFATF on-site assessment next year.
UK PLANS REFORM OF COMPANIES REGISTER
On 5th May, Bloomberg reported that Companies House has plans to change the corporate registration system to increase the transparency of company ownership and management information while protecting personal data to prevent fraud. Directors will be able to suppress personal details such as addresses, whilst making it clearer who is setting up, managing and controlling companies, improving the accuracy and usability of data on the register, and improving information sharing on company accounts to ensure “faster and more sophisticated identification of possible criminal activity. The consultation was launched on 5th May
https://repairschematic.com/uk-plans-biggest-overhaul-of-companies-house-in-170-years/
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/corporate-transparency-and-register-reform
HEAD OF BELARUS NATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANY DETAINED IN MINSK
UA Wire on 5th May reported that the General Director of the leading telecommunications company Beltelecom, Sergey Sivoedov, has been detained and taken into custody in Belarus. He was arrested for allegedly receiving a €15,000 bribe from an unnamed Russian citizen, who was also arrested.
http://uawire.org/head-of-beltelecom-detained-in-belarus
BROTHER OF ALGERIA’S EX-PRESIDENT PLACED IN CUSTODY BY MILITARY JUDGE
Reuters on 5th May reported that the youngest brother of former President Abdelaziz Bouteflika and 2 former intelligence chiefs – Athmane Tartag and Mohamed Mediene – in custody, joining a string of businessmen and officials under investigation over corruption ahead of a presidential election. Said Bouteflika, who served as a top adviser to the presidency, acted as Algeria’s de facto ruler after his brother suffered a stroke in 2013.
LAW FIRM WARNS HAULIERS TO CHECK DRIVERS’ EMPLOYMENT STATUS AND TAX STATUS
On 3rd May, Commercial Motor reported that, following the recent update of statutory guidance by the senior Traffic Commissioner relating to employment status, operators should consider checking the employment status of their drivers and ensure they are not avoiding paying tax by hiding behind a self-employed status, according to law experts at Shulmans LLP.
https://www.commercialmotor.com/news/compliance/check-driver-employment-status-warn-solicitors
IRAN SAYS WILL SELL OIL ON ‘GREY MARKET’
Rferl on 5th May reported that Iran has mobilised all its resources to sell oil on the “grey market,” bypassing US sanctions that Tehran considers illegitimate, its Deputy Oil Minister said.