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U.S. unveils more sanctions on Iran and sells off Iranian oil

The Trump administration on Thursday unveiled a set of punitive measures against Iran, including sanctions for petrochemical sales, in a pre-election move that analysts say could complicate efforts if a new administration takes office and seeks to rejoin the nuclear agreement with the country. The Treasury and State departments sanctioned… Read More

Criminals use real estate transactions in PH to wash dirty money — anti-money laundering body

Criminals are using real estate transactions to launder dirty money in the Philippines, a top official of the Anti-Money Laundering Council revealed. AMLC Executive Director Atty. Mel Racela confirmed this during a Senate hearing on Wednesday after lawmakers asked him why real estate developers and brokers should report cash transactions… Read More

Bahrain: 5 Future Bank officials jailed for money laundering

Bahrain’s High Criminal court on Wednesday sentenced five Future Bank officials to five years in prison and fined them one million Bahraini dinars (Dh9.8 million) each, in the latest of a series of money-laundering cases against Iranian banks, Bahrain News Agency reported. “The court found all defendants guilty of money-laundering… Read More

29th October 2020

Likud MK Haim Katz set to be charged with tax dodging

Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit informed Likud MK Haim Katz Tuesday that he intends to indict him for alleged tax offenses, pending a hearing. Mandelblit’s intention to do so was first reported Monday night by Channel 12. Katz, who already faces another indictment on fraud and breach of trust charges, is… Read More

28th October 2020

Israeli arms manufacturers paid millions to Azeris through Russian bank

Last month, The Times of Israel reported that Israel’s largest aerospace manufacturer, Israel Aerospace Industries, transferred at least $155 million in 2012-2014 to two companies that were reportedly used as a secret slush fund for Azerbaijan’s kleptocratic elite. A new report published earlier this month on Russian… Read More

28th October 2020

UAE Central Bank fines 2 exchange houses for violating rules

The UAE Central Bank on Monday said it imposed administrative sanctions on two exchange houses for violating rules pertaining to anti-money laundering and combating financing of terrorism and illegal organisations. The regulator imposed Dh500,000 fine on one firm and Dh950,000 on another company for having weak anti-money laundering and combating… Read More

27th October 2020

U.S. Sanctions Iran Oil Minister as Trump Ramps Up Pressure

The U.S. sanctioned Iran’s minister of petroleum and some related entities as tensions between the two nations continue to rise in the days before the American presidential election. The Treasury Department announced sanctions against Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh in a statement on Monday, saying Iran uses its oil industry to… Read More

26th October 2020

Global dirty money watchdog revamps rules to battle weapons financing – U.S.

A global dirty money watchdog on Friday agreed to revamp its standards to beef up monitoring of financing aimed at evading U.S. and United Nations sanctions and proliferating weapons of mass destruction, the U.S. Treasury Department said. Endorsement of the new standards by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) at… Read More

26th October 2020

Anti-money laundering agency keeps Pakistan on watch list

A global anti-money laundering watchdog kept Pakistan on its monitoring list asking the South Asian nation to improve controls on terrorist financing while lauding authorities for recent progress. The Financial Action Task Force strongly urged Pakistan to complete its action plan by February, following a three-day meeting. Pakistan has largely… Read More

26th October 2020

How an irrepressible Serbian arms dealer found a conduit to Saudi Arabia through Qatar

By Lawrence Marzouk and Stevan Dojčinović, OCCRP, 23 October 2020 OCCRP – A Cypriot shell firm accused of funnelling bribes on behalf of a notorious Serbian weapons dealer deposited $1.7 million into a secretive trust fund set up for a prominent Saudi, leaked bank records show. That fund’s Qatari… Read More

26th October 2020

U.S. sanctions Russian institute linked to dangerous malware

Washington imposed sanctions on Friday on a Russian research institute tied to the development of a dangerous computer program capable of causing catastrophic industrial damage, a move that Russia called illegitimate. The U.S. Treasury Department alleged that the Russian government-backed Central Scientific Research Institute of Chemistry and Mechanics – also… Read More

26th October 2020

Iraq emerges as new front for enforcement of Iran oil sanctions

Persian Gulf waters off Iraq have become a new, important waypoint for Iranian oil smugglers looking to avoid U.S. sanctions, according to American officials, who expressed frustration that Baghdad and other allies aren’t acting more aggressively to enforce curbs on commerce with Tehran. Iranian tankers now regularly transfer… Read More

26th October 2020

U.S. sanctions two officials from Lebanon’s Hezbollah

The United States has imposed sanctions on two officials from the Lebanese Shi’ite group Hezbollah, the U.S. Treasury Department said, including one who served as a senior military commander in the south of the country. Nabil Qaouk, a member of the group’s executive council who fought during Israel’s 1982-2000 military… Read More

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U.S. unveils more sanctions on Iran and sells off Iranian oil