PEP ... DEPUTY MINISTER DETAINED

This month Russian authorities arrested Sergei Storchak (UID 679022) a deputy finance minister. It is alleged that he tried to embezzle more than $40 million in budget funds. Viktor Zakharov (UID 757021) of Sodexin and Vadim Volkov (UID 757022) who is the chairman of Moscow Interregional Investment Bank (MIB) were also detained. The three men are suspected of “having created an organized group to embezzle budget funds under the pretext of covering expenses for Sodexim". Our research analysts are closely monitoring development in this case and will create and update profiles accordingly.

This month at the Accra High court Joel Meija Duarte Moises (UID 461946), Italio Gervasio Rosero (UID 461945) who also goes by the name Italio Cabeza Castillo, and Vasquez Gerado Duarte David (UID 461948), were sentenced to a total of 70 years behind bars for drug trafficking. Duarte David was sentenced in absentia as he is a fugitive having escaped capture in November 2005 when both Moises and Rosero were detained by authorities in Accra. The trio conspired to import over 500 kilograms of cocaine into Ghana.

FORMER JUDGE JAILED

On January 8, 2008, David A Gross (UID 346063) a former Nassau County District Court Judge will be reporting to federal prison to serve 33 months behind bars for money laundering. Between January and August 2005 Gross and others laundered $130,000, skimming 15 to 20% for their own enrichment and also agreed to sell or sold over quarter of a million dollars worth of allegedly stolen jewellery. It is reported that Gross had links to the Genovese organized crime family.

MASSIVE CONFISCATION ORDER SERVED

Gerald Smith (UID 193131) is currently serving an eight year sentence for theft and false accounting. The owner of the Orb Group and subsequently a director of Izodia was successfully prosecuted by the Serious Fraud Office just over a year ago. This month the inner London Crown Court has handed down a massive £41m confiscation order on Smith. Failure to pay up within 12 months will result in him spending an additional eight years in prison. World-Check profiled Smith over four years ago. The Serious Fraud Office is just one of the many regulatory and enforcement sites that our research analysts monitor and which are key worded on our database for your convenience.

INVESTIGATION INTO NZ FRAUDSTER’S ASSETS

Paul Douglas Hadfield (UID 754374) was jailed last year on 81 counts of fraud. Hadfield was ordered to pay $335,000 compensation to his victims, but to date has failed to cough up even one cent. This month a South Island judge has ordered an investigation into Hadfield’s assets. It is purported he may have transferred assets into the "various Hadfield entities,” including Hadfield Farming Partnership.

For those readers who doubted the National Drug Intelligence Centre pronouncement earlier this month, that bulk cash smuggling is increasing from the US into Mexico, we offer the latest case. A 38-year old Mexican national was intercepted outbound at Nogales, Arizona this week. His actions were deemed suspicious by law enforcement, and his vehicle was searched, revealing US$484,500 in cash hidden under chocolate, in buckets and boxes. He was taken into custody, and the cash seized by US Customs & Border Protection agents. …read more

This month Manfo Asiedu (UID 335093) whose real name is Sumaila Abubakari was jailed for 33 years. In November Asiedu agreed to plead guilty to ‘conspiring to cause explosions’ a lesser charge than the initial indictment of conspiracy to commit murder, following the failure of the jury in the first trial, to reach a consensus. Asiedu was involved in the 21/7 failed bombing plot aimed at London’s transport system and it was revealed that he had been the person responsible for purchasing the materials to make the explosive devices. The judge advised that Asiedu should be returned to Ghana, once he has served his sentence.

GUILTY OF DISTRIBUTING TERROR PROPAGANDA

Abdul Rahman (UID 565791) was arrested in January 2007. This month he pleaded guilty to possession of articles for the purpose of terrorism, dissemination of terrorist propaganda and aiding or abetting the breach of a control order. Rahman who is from Pakistan was studying in Manchester and joined a radical jihadist cell. Rahman is reported to have attempted to recruit and encourage people to join the group. He is also reported to have attended military style training camps in the Lake District.

In January 2004 Chelalli Benchellali (UID 207081) was arrested on suspicion of plotting to attack Russian targets in Paris. Two years later he together with family members and associates were convicted of planning to commit attacks on various Paris targets. Benchallali was also found guilty of attempting to recruit fighters for Chechnya. He was expelled from France to his native Algeria after initially receiving a suspended sentence for his activities. This month after a successful appeal by the prosecutors, the Paris court upheld his initial conviction for criminal association with a terrorist organization and sentenced him to five years behind bars. An arrest warrant has been issued. Check out the Display Graph on his profile to see who else was involved and the sentences received.

Abdelhaleem Ashqar (UID 247094) was earlier this year acquitted on a racketeering conspiracy together with Muhammad Salah (UID 7322). This month Ashqar who was a former associate professor at Harvard was sentenced to just under 12 years behind bars and fined $5,000 after he refused to testify in front of a federal grand jury. Ashqar was convicted of obstruction of justice and criminal contempt. His co accused Salah was given a 22 month sentence after he was convicted of lying on a document.

Join us on December 14th at the Savoy Hotel, London, where World-Check is holding two free seminars.
Expert industry speakers including Kenneth Rijock, Chris McNeil and Simon Pearson will be addressing key topics such as the 3rd EU Money Directive, Effective Techniques for KYC, ‘How to Avoid doing Business with the Wrong People’ and Automated Client Screening as well as other compliance focused issues. In addition there will be two Q & A sessions, giving attendees a valuable opportunity to interact with our keynote presenters.
For more information on the two sessions please visit here. We look forward to seeing you there.

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