PEP ... NICARAGUAN PEPS UNDER INVESTIGATION

A group of Nicaraguan PEPs is currently under investigation for involvement in the bankruptcy of five banks. The accused include former Minister of Finance Esteban Duquestrada Sacasa (UID 978), who has been in the World-Check database for nearly six years. In May this year Sacasa, was cleared of money laundering charges connected to former President Arnoldo Aleman and his family in Panama. Also under investigation is the former president of the National Bank between 1997-2001, Noel Ernesto Ramirez (UID 2740) and Sacasa Cruz (UID 2877) who resigned as Superintendent of Nicaragua’s banks in July 2003, when allegations surfaced regarding his mismanagement and involvement in the bankruptcy of Interbank, Bancafe, Bamer and Banic. All the accused reportedly fled the country. To check out who their cronies are take a look at the Graphic Display on Sacasa’s (UID 978) profile, this will reveal the network of individuals and companies and a click of the mouse on any of the connections will expose the second layer of associates. World-Check solutions make compliance and due diligence more effective.

TRIAL STARTS FOR DOMINICAN BANKERS

Baninter Bank embezzlement trial has started in Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic. The collapse of the third largest bank in the Dominican Republic caused the worst financial crisis in the country’s history. The plaintiffs include the Republic’s former Ambassador to France, Luis Alvarez Renta (UID 159781) the Baninter Bank president Ramon Baez Figuero (UID 159783), as well as Marcos Baez Cocco (UID 167908), Vivian Lubrano de Castillo,(UID162305) and Jesus Tronoso Ferrua (UID 225261). The Republic has already filed a number of suits in US Federal courts in an attempt to recover over two billion dollars. The World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank are pushing the Dominican authorities to set an example by punishing the people they consider to be responsible for the financial disaster.

CORRUPTION WITHIN MARSEILLES MUNICIPALITY

Catherine Megret (UID 502081) the former Mayor of Vitrolles between 1997-2002 is reported to have embezzled almost 75,000 euros during her tenure. Her spouse Bruno (UID 2043) is leader of the Mouvement National Republican (MNR), he has been in World-Check’s database for over five years. In October 2003 he was brought to court to answer allegations of illegal party funding. Three months later he was given a suspended sentence, fined and also banned from holding public office for one year. This month the Megrets were back in court, this time the prosecutor is requesting they serve a two-year sentence for embezzlement of the Vitrolles municipality funds. To find out whether the prosecution is successful try our News-Check functionality and also check out the hyperlink sources on Bruno Megret’s profile, which include a link to his official website. World-Check brings you Intelligence that you can use!

FORMER INTELLIGENCE CHIEF SUPPLIED ARMS TO FARC

On 21 September the former Chief of Intelligence in Peru, Vladimiro Montesinos Torres (UID 6161) was sentenced to 20 years in jail. In this latest trial, which has lasted 3 years, Montesinos was convicted on charges of organized crime, violation of a foreign country's sovereignty and arms trafficking. Montesinos supplied ten thousand assault rifles to the Colombian terrorist organization FARC (UID 1053). He is already serving 15 years on various corruption and bribery charges, his latest sentence will run concurrently.

This month British forces reportedly killed Omar Al-Farouq (UID 96143) in a raid on a house in Basra, Iraq. Al-Farouq had escaped from a US detention centre in Afghanistan in 2005. He was first included in World-Check in December 2002 nearly four years before he was killed. Al-Farouq went under a number of aliases and it is reported that he had been in Iraq to visit his sick mother.

Sajida Al-Rishawi (UID 379998) was this month sentenced to death by hanging. She had been convicted of involvement in the Jordanian bombings of the Radisson hotel in the country’s capital in November 2005. According to reports, these terror acts were ordered by Al-Qaida’s chief operative Al-Zarqawi, (UID 98009) who was killed in Iraq in June. Sajida was the only accused in custody, others were charged in absentia.

Asher Weisgan (UID 348060) was earlier this month convicted on four counts of murder, attempted murder and sabotage. He has now been sentenced to four life terms plus 12 years for attempted murder and has been ordered to compensate his victims’ families.