On 4 August, VOX, the website for Centre for Economic Policy Research, published an article which introduces a new dataset of economic sanctions that covers all bilateral, multilateral, and plurilateral sanctions in the world from 1950 to 2016 that can be utilised to analyse sanctions policies.
Day: August 4, 2020
LEBANESE HEZBOLLAH INTERACTIVE MAP
The Washington Institute for Near East Policy on 3 August produced an interactive map (and videos) and saying that Lebanese Hezbollah is a global, multifaceted organisation, engaged in a wide range of endeavours, including overt social and political activities in Lebanon, military activities in Lebanon, Syria, and throughout the Middle East, and covert militant, criminal, and terrorist activities around the world. Hezbollah is very public about its social and political activities, but the group goes to great lengths to conceal its covert and illicit pursuits. The Institute has produced an interactive multimedia tool, the map is searchable by category, location, timeline, and text keywords. Each entry includes photographs or videos, a summary of the event, geographic and/or thematic linkages to other related entries in the map, as well as primary-source documents. As a “living” project, the digital interface will be updated as more information and documentation becomes available.
https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/hezbollahinteractivemap/
3 EXECUTIVES FROM GUAM AND NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS INDICTED FOR RICO CONSPIRACY, HARBORING ILLEGAL ALIENS, UNLAWFUL EMPLOYMENT OF ALIENS, AND INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONAL MONEY LAUNDERING
A news release from the US DoJ on 4 August advised that 3 executives from Imperial Pacific International (IPI) and MCC International Saipan have been indicted, accused of utilising criminal labour practices during ongoing construction of the Grand Mariana Casino Hotel and Resort on the island of Saipan. The defendants are further alleged to have transferred over $24 million into the US to promote their illegal activity.
SECOND GUILTY PLEA IN LARGEST CYBERCRIME BUST IN US HISTORY
On 4 August, OCCRP published an article saying that a 30-year-old Moldovan national has pleaded guilty in a US court to participation in the Infraud transnational cybercrime organisation that caused more than half a billion dollars in losses. Valerian Chiochiu, a programmer who went under various aliases including “Onassis,” “Flagler,” “Socrate,” and “Ecclesiastes,” was charged with conspiracy under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) as a member of the international cybercrime group known as Infruad.
https://www.occrp.org/en/daily/12901-second-guilty-plea-in-largest-cybercrime-bust-in-us-history
FORMER OMBUDSMAN OF PANAMA SENTENCED TO 8 YEARS IN PRISON FOR CORRUPTION
On 4 August, Explica and others reported that Patria Portugal, the first woman to have held the position of Ombudsman in Panama during 2011-2013, has been found guilty and sentenced to 8years in prison for embezzlement.
https://www.explica.co/former-ombudsman-of-panama-sentenced-to-8-years-in-prison-for-corruption/
UK AMENDS 26 VENEZUELAN SANCTIONS ENTRIES
On 4 August, HM Treasury published a Notice advising that 26 entries relation to sanctions on persons and entities in Venezuela have been amended and remain subject to an asset freeze.
UK OPEN GENERAL EXPORT LICENCES REVISED AND REVOKED
On 4 August, the UK Department of International Trade published Notice to Exporters 2020/13 which advised that 20 open general export licences (OGEL), 1 open general transhipment licence (OGTL) and 1 open general trade control licence (OGTCL) that include Hong Kong have been changed or amended to bring them in line with restrictions on China.
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