Jüri Ratas resigns as Estonian prime minister amid corruption scandal
14th January 2021
Jüri Ratas resigns as Estonian prime minister amid corruption scandal
Jüri Ratas resigned as prime minister of Estonia and head of the Centre Party on Wednesday, amid allegations of corruption against his party. On Tuesday, the Estonian Public Prosecutor’s Office announced it suspected the Centre Party and five individuals, including its Secretary-General Mihhail Korb, were involved… Read More
AUSTRAC claimed the Vatican wired $2.3 billion to Australia. The true figure was $9.5 million
14th January 2021
AUSTRAC claimed the Vatican wired $2.3 billion to Australia. The true figure was $9.5 million
The financial crime watchdog has issued a grovelling apology after accidentally telling Parliament that the Vatican transferred $2.3 billion to Australia over seven years when the actual amount was less than $10 million. The Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre’s claim prompted alarm and confusion in the Holy See, where… Read More
President of the European Central Bank Christine Lagarde calls for global regulation of bitcoin
14th January 2021
President of the European Central Bank Christine Lagarde calls for global regulation of bitcoin
Bitcoin is a “funny business” asset that is used for money laundering and needs global regulation, the president of the European Central Bank has said. Christine Lagarde was unequivocal in her criticism. “For those who had assumed it might turn into a currency — terribly sorry, but this is a… Read More
Iran demands sanctions ‘snapback’ removed in any new nuclear talks
14th January 2021
Iran demands sanctions ‘snapback’ removed in any new nuclear talks
Iran demands the removal of the so-called snapback mechanism in its nuclear accord, which could revive all U.N. sanctions against Tehran, in the event of new talks with world powers, a senior aide to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said. Under the 2015 deal, Iran agreed to curb its nuclear… Read More
No more anonymous home buyers: New law requires shell companies to name their owners
14th January 2021
No more anonymous home buyers: New law requires shell companies to name their owners
A new federal law is putting an end to anonymous shell companies used to launder dirty money through high-priced real estate, automobiles and works of fine art. Until this year, Limited Liability Corporations — known as LLCs — often used to purchase real estate enabled buyers to block their identity… Read More
US Sentences Bulgarian Owner of BitCoin-Laundering Hub
14th January 2021
US Sentences Bulgarian Owner of BitCoin-Laundering Hub
By Jullet Pineda Sleinan, OCCRP, 13 January 2021 OCCRP — A court in the United States has sentenced a Bulgarian national for his role in a multi-million dollar cyber-fraud and money laundering racket, according to a statement from the Department of Justice. OCCRP previously reported… Read More
Romanian gang used dozens of fake cards in Dublin newsagents
14th January 2021
Romanian gang used dozens of fake cards in Dublin newsagents
Two members of a Romanian organised crime gang made dozens of fake credit cards and used them in Dublin shops after a “deep” skim of UK bank customers’ details, a court has been told. Daniel Almajanu, 35, used a card reader and writer machine to make fake cards which Albert… Read More
Italy’s largest mafia trial in three decades to begin against ‘Ndrangheta
14th January 2021
Italy’s largest mafia trial in three decades to begin against ‘Ndrangheta
Italy’s largest mafia trial in three decades will begin on Wednesday, with 900 witnesses testifying against more than 350 people, including politicians and officials charged with being members of the powerful ’Ndrangheta. A high-security 1,000-capacity courtroom with cages to hold the defendants has been built by Italian authorities in the… Read More
Fake exotic dancer companies forfeit £5m in laundered cash
14th January 2021
Fake exotic dancer companies forfeit £5m in laundered cash
Police have recovered more than £5m from three fake companies that offered live-streamed exotic dancers as a guise to launder cash. The Manchester-based firms laundered more than $60m (£44m) over 12 months through fake pay-per-view adult entertainment websites. A judge agreed they should forfeit £5.8m, which is the largest amount… Read More
Whistle-Blowing Soars to Record With Americans Working From Home
14th January 2021
Whistle-Blowing Soars to Record With Americans Working From Home
The work-from-home phenomenon has triggered a fresh frustration for U.S. corporations: Americans are blowing the whistle on their employers like never before. The proof is in the data, with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission receiving 6,900 tips alleging white-collar malfeasance in the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, a… Read More
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