Day: July 20, 2022

On 20 July, Sahara Reporters reported that the Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal has convicted and sentenced Senator Peter Nwaoboshi to 7 years imprisonment for money laundering.  His companies, Golden Touch Construction Project Ltd and Suiming Electrical Ltd, are also to be wound up.

https://saharareporters.com/2022/07/20/appeal-court-jails-nigerian-serving-senator-nwaoboshi-seven-years-orders-winding-his-two

Any modest contributions for my time and ongoing expenses are welcomed!  At Buy me a Coffee one-off contributions start as low as $3, at

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/KoIvM842y

NOTE THAT THE ABOVE LINK IS NOW CORRECTED AND WORKS!

On 20 July, the Home Office published the report which contains recommendations for improvements in order to deliver the UK’s “Border 2025” ambitions.  These are said to include better system leadership from the Home Office and other parts of government for which Border Force delivers, giving the organisation a clear mandate, clear priorities and targets. 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/independent-review-of-border-force

Any modest contributions for my time and ongoing expenses are welcomed!  At Buy me a Coffee one-off contributions start as low as $3, at

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/KoIvM842y

NOTE THAT THE ABOVE LINK IS NOW CORRECTED AND WORKS!

This report from Transparency international, published on 24 May, says that, despite strong early pledges to sanction and track the illicit wealth of Russian elites following the invasion of Ukraine, the G7 and other leading economies are not sufficiently equipped to bring kleptocrats to justice.  The report sets out to reveal what is holding up their progress. It finds that authorities across the G7 lack information, capacity and powers to track down illicit wealth.  As things stand, it argues, governments will also face significant legal challenges when attempting to confiscate and return these assets to the victims of corruption.

https://images.transparencycdn.org/images/2022-Report-Up-to-the-task.pdf

Any modest contributions for my time and ongoing expenses are welcomed!  At Buy me a Coffee one-off contributions start as low as $3, at

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/KoIvM842y

NOTE THAT THE ABOVE LINK IS NOW CORRECTED AND WORKS!

On 20 July, a Notice from HM Treasury advised that the entry for Abu Zayd Umar DORDA had been amended.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1092672/Notice_Libya_200722.pdf

Any modest contributions for my time and ongoing expenses are welcomed!  At Buy me a Coffee one-off contributions start as low as $3, at

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/KoIvM842y

NOTE THAT THE ABOVE LINK IS NOW CORRECTED AND WORKS!

On 20 July, a Notice from HM Treasury advised that the entries for 3 individuals and 2 entities had been amended.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1092677/Notice_Russia_200722.pdf

Any modest contributions for my time and ongoing expenses are welcomed!  At Buy me a Coffee one-off contributions start as low as $3, at

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/KoIvM842y

NOTE THAT THE ABOVE LINK IS NOW CORRECTED AND WORKS!

Windward on 20 July said that its unique Maritime AI™ technology has identified a worrisome new phenomenon: alleged Russian grain laundering. Its analysis covers how it is happening based on its proprietary insights.  It highlights 5 vessels engaging in dark activities and ship-to-ship (STS) operations in the Kerch Strait in June 2022 as part of what appears to be a coordinated effort to launder grain allegedly stolen from Ukraine.  The analysis takes a close look at both of these aspects and will detail the journeys and behaviour of the vessels involved in the coordinated effort. 

https://windward.ai/read/maritime-meeting-reveals-a-new-phenomenon-alleged-russian-grain-laundering

Any modest contributions for my time and ongoing expenses are welcomed!  At Buy me a Coffee one-off contributions start as low as $3, at

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/KoIvM842y

NOTE THAT THE ABOVE LINK IS NOW CORRECTED AND WORKS!

On 20 July, Out-Law published this Guide, saying that from 1 August, overseas entities owning property in the UK must register on a new register of overseas entities (ROE) maintained by Companies House and will need to keep that register up to date.

https://www.pinsentmasons.com/out-law/guides/a-guide-to-the-uks-register-of-overseas-entities

Any modest contributions for my time and ongoing expenses are welcomed!  At Buy me a Coffee one-off contributions start as low as $3, at

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/KoIvM842y

NOTE THAT THE ABOVE LINK IS NOW CORRECTED AND WORKS!

On 20 July, FATF published this report which aims to help jurisdictions responsibly enhance, design and implement information collaboration initiatives among private sector entities, in accordance with data protection and privacy (DPP) rules, so that the risks associated with increased sharing of personal data are appropriately taken into account.  The report looks at global AML/CFT/CPF requirements and how responsible private-to-private collaboration can contribute to their effective implementation.  It also provides an introduction to the DPP principles and objectives that stakeholders should (or must) consider when designing private sector collaboration initiatives.

http://www.fatf-gafi.org/publications/digitaltransformation/data-pooling-collaborative-analytics-data-protection-phase2.html?hf=10&b=0&s=desc(fatf_releasedate)

Any modest contributions for my time and ongoing expenses are welcomed!  At Buy me a Coffee one-off contributions start as low as $3, at

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/KoIvM842y

NOTE THAT THE ABOVE LINK IS NOW CORRECTED AND WORKS!

On 19 July, The National in Scotland carried an article about the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee report into the billions of pounds wasted by “mismanagement” of PPE contracts.  It focused on PPE procurement by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC).  The report found the UK Government was spending around £7 million every month to store the 3.9 billion unneeded items which it bought during the Covid pandemic.  Some of these may have to be incinerated if no other use can be found for them. The Committee’s report also said there was “up to £2.7 billion of taxpayers’ money at risk” as a total of 176 contracts are currently in dispute, mainly over issues of quality.  Damning conclusions on the awarding of these contracts also estimate that as much as £400 million in taxpayer cash could have been lost to fraud.  The report also noted the unlawful “VIP lane” which the government set up early in the pandemic for PPE contract bids from companies recommended by Government ministers.  The MPs said this unlawful channel “resulted in 115 contracts worth £3.8bn being awarded to 51 suppliers”. The Committee’s report twice raises the issue of PPE Medpro, a company at the centre of a fraud probe by the NCA.

https://www.thenational.scot/news/20290617.covid-public-accounts-committee-report-lays-bare-tory-incompetence-ppe/

https://www.bma.org.uk/bma-media-centre/public-accounts-committee-report-on-ppe-highlights-complete-lack-of-preparedness-for-pandemic-says-bma

https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/127/public-accounts-committee/news/171306/4-billion-of-unusable-ppe-bought-in-first-year-of-pandemic-will-be-burnt-to-generate-power/

https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5803/cmselect/cmpubacc/260/summary.html

Any modest contributions for my time and ongoing expenses are welcomed!  At Buy me a Coffee one-off contributions start as low as $3, at

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/KoIvM842y

On 20 July, Middle East Eye reported that sanctions were originally imposed on Cham Wings Airlines in December, after it was accused by the EU of flying people to Belarus so they could cross the bloc’s external borders.  It is said that an EU spokesperson could not say why the ban had been lifted.  Middle East Eye also noted that, though the airline is not sanctioned by the UN, a UN panel of experts identified that between 1 January and 10 March 2020, there were at least 33 flights from Damascus to Benghazi, said to be likely carrying Syrian mercenaries in contravention of an international arms ban on Libya.

https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/syria-eu-lifts-sanctions-airline-accused-smuggling-migrants

Any modest contributions for my time and ongoing expenses are welcomed!  At Buy me a Coffee one-off contributions start as low as $3, at

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/KoIvM842y

NOTE THAT THE ABOVE LINK IS NOW CORRECTED AND WORKS!