On 20 October, Eurojust – the EU Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation – published this report which presents key findings based on Eurojust’s money laundering casework and expertise built up over the years. It is the Agency’s first dedicated publication on money laundering. The report aims to support national authorities dealing with cross-border money laundering cases by providing an overview of the legal and practical challenges, as well as solutions, including the use of Eurojust’s judicial cooperation tools. Between 1 January 2016 and 31 December 2021 almost 3 000 corruption cases were registered at Eurojust, with cases steadily rising since 2016.
On 20 October, a Notice from HM Treasury advised that Saeed AGHAJANI; Mohammad BAGHERI; Seyed Hojjatollah QUREISHI; and SHAHED AVIATION INDUSTRIES had been added to the lists. At the same time the existing entry for Oleksandr SAULENKO has been amended.
On 20 October, the FCPA Blog published a post saying that each element of a FCPA offence have been contentious, but none more than the fourth element — “foreign official”.
On 7 September, OCCRP reported that the manual contains tips and tricks on how to access records and information in 19 Latin American countries. The free guide is intended to help journalists search for documents and data in Latin America.
EU Regulation 2022/1985/EU has added 4 names to the sanctions, including Shahed Aviation Industries, for actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine.
On 19 October, CNN and others reported that the DoJ announced charges against nearly a dozen people and 2 companies in connection with illegal schemes to send military technology to Russia, some of which has allegedly been recovered from battlefields in Ukraine. The DoJ said in a statement that some of the defendants also tried to send “nuclear proliferation technology” to Russia, but that it was intercepted before it arrived.
As someone who seems to be something of a favourite for the local mosquito population, although only a spider bite has sent me to the doctor’s (so far), I was interested to read in the Guardian that a new study finds that some people really are “mosquito magnets” and it probably has to do with the way they smell…
A new Policy paper from SIPRI says that among the key tools that states that export arms and military equipment can adopt to help to prevent and mitigate the diversion of military materiel are post-shipment on-site inspections. These inspections involve the exporting state requiring and conducting physical checks on previously authorized and transferred military materiel on the territory of the importing state. The wider use of post-shipment on-site inspections could help to prevent diversion of military materiel, and this Policy Paper reviews the barriers and challenges, and summarises the steps that have been taken at the national level to address them. The Paper then examines the steps that have been taken and that could be taken at the multilateral level to expand discussion about post-shipment on-site inspections and help to support those states that are considering adopting this policy tool. For each step, it presents a series of recommendations that could be taken forward by states, research institutes, or the executives or secretariats of relevant multilateral instruments or bodies.
On 18 October, Nikkei Asia reported that India has started rolling out plans for a digital rupee, joining a wave of countries pushing to make payments more efficient through similar steps. But uptake could be slow in a nation that has traditionally been heavily dependent on cash. The central bank has announced “pilot launches” from next March.
UK: EXPORT CONTROL ORDER 2008 – CHANGES TO SCHEDULE 2 (MILITARY GOODS, SOFTWARE AND TECHNOLOGY)
On 19 October, the ECJU published Notice to Exporters 2022/26 which advises of changes that implement changes to the list of defence-related products. These reflect changes to the Wassenaar Arrangement munitions list. They also implement changes to the European Common Military List, in accordance with the UK commitments under the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland in the EU Withdrawal Agreement.
JAPANESE GAMING BILLIONAIRE KAZUO OKADA ARRESTED AT MANILA AIRPORT
On 19 October, iGB reported that Kazuo Okada, 80, had been arrested by police arrested Kazuo Okada after he disembarked a flight from Haneda, Japan. The Philippines Department of Justice had indicted him on “grave coercion” charges at the beginning of the month.
US: DoJASKS FOR STAY IN SEC StraightPath CIVIL CASE TO PREVENT INTERFERENCE WITH CRIMINAL PROBE
On 18 October, the Wall Street Journal reported that the DoJ had asked a federal judge to suspend the civil fraud case involving the founders of StraightPath Venture Partners LLC, which marketed funds to invest in pre-IPO shares, saying the proceeding could interfere with a related criminal investigation.
EU PLANS TO IMPOSE SANCTIONS ON IRAN MILITARY LEADERS OVER DRONES IN UKRAINE
On 19 October, the Guardian reported that the EU plans to impose sanctions on 3 senior Iranian military commanders and the company that develops drones believed to have been used in Russia’s attacks.
RUSSIAN ARCTIC COAL IS LOOKING FOR WAY OUT OF SANCTIONS
On 19 October, the Eye on the Arctic website reported that the launch of coal mining at the far northern Taymyr Peninsula was to lead to a boost in exports through the Northern Sea Route. Now, mining company Severnaya Zvezda instead seeks new markets and ways to replace sanctioned technology.
VOLUNTARY PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE EU AND GUYANA ON FOREST LAW ENFORCEMENT, GOVERNANCE AND TRADE IN TIMBER PRODUCTS
EU Council Decision 2022/1974/EU authorises the signing on behalf of the EU of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement between the EU and Guyana on forest law enforcement, governance and trade in timber products (FLEGT) to the EU is hereby authorised, subject to the conclusion of the said Agreement.
A post from the Insolvency Service on 19 October was concerned with the use of new powers to tackle directors from abusing the dissolution process and walking away without paying their debts. It explores how the Insolvency Service secured 4 disqualifications in a relatively short amount of time using brand-new investigative powers.
SANCTIONS AGAINST RUSSIA HAVE CAPTURED THE WORLD’S ATTENTION, BUT THE WORLD MUST NOT NEGLECT OTHER REGIMES
A Commentary from RUSI on 18 October says that, while sanctions against Russia remain the primary focus of the international community, a new UN report shows that international implementation of sanctions against North Korea continues to be patchy. This is not so much down to a lack of political will, but rather a growing divide between the ‘haves’ and ‘have nots’ on the front line of implementation. It says that the mutual evaluation data shows stark differences between rich and poor countries when it comes to implementing proliferation financing-related requirements, further highlighting gaps that countries like North Korea can exploit. Whereas nearly 70% of high-income countries were found to be ‘compliant’ or ‘largely compliant’, the same was true for only 10% of low-income countries.
PRESIDENT OF PERU ACCUSED OF LEADING A CORRUPTION RING
On 18 October, OCCRP reported that, after Peruvian lawmakers accused top prosecutor Patricia Benavides of belonging to a criminal organization, she filed an official accusation with the Congress against sitting President Pedro Castillo with Congress, demanding an investigation into potential graft in public works.
IRAQ: FINANCE MINISTRY DISCOVERS $2.5 BILLION STOLEN FROM GOVERNMENT ACCOUNT
On 18 October, OCCRP reported that an investigation by Iraq’s finance ministry has uncovered that $2.5 billion dollars were stolen from a government tax commission account by 5 companies, in what amounts to one of the largest corruption scandals in the country’s history; and embezzled from a government account at Baghdad’s Rafidain Bank — a state-owned bank and the largest in Iraq — between September 2021 and August 2022.
INTERPOL GLOBAL CRIME TREND REPORT: MORE THAN 60% OF RESPONDENTS RANK CRIMES SUCH AS MONEY LAUNDERING, RANSOMWARE, PHISHING AND ONLINE SCAMS AS HIGH OR VERY HIGH THREATS
On 19 October, a news release from INTERPOL announced that the first-ever Global Crime Trend report, saw more than 60% of respondents rank crimes such as money laundering, ransomware, phishing and online scams as high or very high threats. More than 70% of respondents expect crimes such as ransomware and phishing attacks to increase or significantly increase in the next 3 to 5 years.
UK: LEGAL SERVICES EXEMPTION IN ‘FOREIGN AGENTS’ CLAMPDOWN
On 18 October, the Law Society Gazette reported that providers of legal services will be exempt from requirements to register as agents of a foreign power under proposed security legislation, the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme, under an amendment to the National Security Bill.
UKRAINE INVITES UN EXPERTS TO EXAMINE IRANIAN DRONE DEBRIS
On 19 October, Eurasia Review reported that Ukraine has invited UN experts to examine debris from what it says are Iranian-made drones sold to Russia in violation of international sanctions and used to attack Ukrainian towns and cities.
Meanwhile, the Eurasia Review also reported that –
IRAN CLAIMS 22 COUNTRIES INTERESTED IN BUYING ITS DRONES
A high-ranking Iranian general highlighted the country’s progress in the drone industry, saying 22 foreign states are interested in purchasing Iranian UAV.
TOKYO OLYMPIC GAMES EXECUTIVE INVESTIGATED FOR BRIBERY CASE
On 17 October, NHK reported that Japanese prosecutors appear to be investigating a fourth bribery case tied to the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games involving a former executive of the events’ organising committee. He is suspected to have received cash from a company that sold licensed merchandise related to the Games’ official mascots, and is believed to have told the organising committee that licensing contract screenings were too strict.
US: AIRLINE MECHANICS SENTENCED FOR CONSPIRACY TO PURCHASE PRIVATE JET TO TRANSPORT COCAINE INTERNATIONALLY
A news release from US DoJ on 17 October advised that Jesus Enriquez Pimentel, a 41-year-old Mexican had been sentenced to 5½ years in prison and Tomas Borjas Mendez, 38, from Texas, to 4½ years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute cocaine internationally. It is said that they tried to purchase a private passenger jet for users in Mexico.
On 16 October, a report from The Insider focussed on how millions made from Russian defence ministry contracts were said to have been invested in Lithuania, and how the owner of a modest business selling mopeds and spare parts had become fantastically rich, eventually becoming the beneficiary of several Lithuanian businesses with assets worth nearly €20 million in several parts of the Lithuanian capital.
VIETNAM’S ONLINE ILLEGAL WILDLIFE TRADE AND THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PHYSICAL-SHOP TRADERS AND ONLINE NETWORKS
On 18 October, a report from the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime explored the landscape of Vietnam’s online illegal wildlife trade and the dynamic, changing relationship between physical-shop traders and online networks. The online landscape uncovered during this study is cause for concern. The internet and social media are used at nearly every level of the supply chain, from rural hunters and sellers to urban manufacturers of finished products and their distributors. In contrast to other illicit markets, where the internet is used as a mean of obfuscation or to provide the cover of anonymity, online illegal wildlife trade, this report finds, often takes place openly.
INTERPOL REPORTEDLY CREATES DEDICATED UNIT TO FIGHT CRYPTO CRIMES
On 18 October, Coin Telegraph reported that INTERPOL is reportedly planning to strengthen its crackdown on cryptocurrency-related crimes by forming a dedicated division.
In the latest TRACE podcast, investigative journalist Dorothee Myriam Kellou tells the story of the Lafarge plant in Syria that was ultimately taken over by ISIS. (This episode was originally published in 2018).
UK: GATEHOUSE BANK HANDED £1.5 MILLION FINE BY FCA OVER “POOR” AML CHECKS
On 19 October, Fintech Futures reported that the regulator says that the bank “failed to conduct sufficient checks on its customers based in countries with a higher risk of money laundering and terrorist financing” between June 2014 and July 2017.
On 18 October, EurActiv reported that executives who sell or use business jets expressed concern that a French proposal to tax corporate aircraft over greenhouse gas emissions is making their industry a “scapegoat,” following protests by climate activists in Europe. France’s government has floated the prospect of new taxes, but a European official said that is unlikely.
EUROPOL KEEPS WARY EYE ON THREAT FROM 3D-PRINTED GUNS
On 18 October, EurActiv reported that agrowing number of seizures of guns made at home from 3D-printed parts are raising alarm bells for European police over an emerging threat. It warns that “3D metallic printing” could become affordable in the next decade — which could make self-made weapons more durable and reliable.
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN E-SPORTS AND GAMBLING LAWS IN SINGAPORE
On 19 October, an article from Hogan Lovells includes mention of a recent case which is notable for illustrating how actors in the growing e-sports sector in Singapore may infringe anti-corruption laws. The case is also notable in intersecting with the changing regulatory landscape in Singapore with respect to online gambling.
ALLEGED OneCoin ‘CRYPTOQUEEN’ ASSOCIATES FACE CHARGES IN GERMANY
On 19 October, Oodaloop reported that 3 people associated with notorious OneCoin founder Ruja Ignatova have appeared in a German court facing charges over their alleged roles in a multibillion-dollar fraud operation. One man, a Munich lawyer who worked for Ignatova, is alleged to have transferred €20 million via the Cayman Islands on her behalf to buy 2 apartments in London. The other 2 defendants are a husband and wife, who are accused of handling €320 million worth of OneCoin customers’ money.
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