PEP ALERT ...MINISTER RESIGNS UNDER BRIBERY CLOUD

The Tanzanian Infrastructure minister Andrew Chenge (UID 14182) has stepped down after allegations surfaced that he was involved in the controversial purchase of radar equipment from BAE (UID 167176) seven years ago. It has been reported that officials discovered a substantial amount of money in an offshore account in his name and it is purportedly linked to the 2002 government purchase from the UK firm. British fraud authorities have been investigating the sale of the radar equipment to Tanzania, and it has been reported that more than $10m of the contract price had been diverted to offshore centre accounts. Reportedly British authorities are still deciding whether they will bring new corruption charges against BAE in this matter. The World-Check research analysts will be monitoring the story as it develops and updating profiles as more information emerges.

This month a former state prosecutor Mark Avery (UID 253469) was sent to jail for eight and a half-years for defrauding a wealthy widow out of more than US$50 million. Avery was charged and convicted of wire fraud and money laundering and the judge ordered him to pay restitution to the Trust of US$52,125,000, some of this will be through bankruptcy proceedings. Avery's partner in Security Aviation the company he set up with the Trust money was Rob Kane (UID 253469). Proceedings against Kane, who is reported to be in the Philippines with his spouse were dismissed in 2006, but recent reports suggest that authorities are continuing their investigations. Could Avery's partner be operating in your jurisdiction? Check out the verification hyperlinks on Avery's profile to read the full story.

CONVICTED FRAUDSTER SOUGHT

This month the FBI placed Harris Dempsey Ballow (UID 91041) on its 10 Most Wanted Fugitives List. Ballow pleaded guilty to a US$10m stock fraud in 2003. Ballow was initially refused bailed but it was agreed that he could be released in September 2004 however, he disappeared just before he was due to be sentenced that December. He has been sighted in Mexico according to reports, and authorities suspect he is running similar stock scams from his refuge south of the border. His wife Robin Harless Ballow (UID 850717) is believed to be with him, she is also a convicted felon. World-Check first profiled Ballow as far back as 2002. Check out his profile for the assumed names he is known to use, could he perhaps be operating under one of those in his alleged new business ventures?

SELF PROCLAIMED PRINCE UP FOR FRAUD

This month Omar Yusuf (UID 497096) is appearing in a Melbourne court on more than 160 counts of "obtaining property and financial advantage by deception". Yusuf is reported to have told investors that he had been given the title of Prince by the Saudi Royal family. He is alleged to have defrauded investors out of more than AUS$9m. He owned the companies On the Go Transport, a fleet company, and Yusuf Holdings. Yusuf reportedly claimed that his companies had an annual turnover of hundred of millions of dollars. His scam is alleged to have taken place between July 2003 and March 2005. Yusuf fled to Malaysia in 2005 having first sold off all his trucks and withdrawn all the money. World-Check's unique application Passport-Check, is able to verify the authenticity of machine readable passports and copies thereof - often the primary document offered for identification during KYC procedures. Passport-Check also conducts an automated search throughout the World-Check database to ascertain whether an individual is profiled. The procedure takes just a matter of seconds.

Venezuela now has its own domestic "Suitcasegate." Authorities arrested an individual who attempted to smuggle $400m in bonds issued by the Central Bank of Venezuela, in a suitcase, aboard a flight departing from Caracas' Simon Bolivar International Airport. The traveller's assets were seized. He was seeking to travel to Rome on a Portuguese passport that the authorities believe is counterfeit. The "bagman," who spoke Spanish with a pronounced Colombian accent, has not yet been identified by Venezuelan law enforcement authorities. Organised crime activity? You bet it is. …read more

Omar Brooks (UID 558269) is among six British individuals who were found guilty of 'inciting acts of terrorism and/or raising money for terrorist purposes'. Brooks otherwise known as Abu Izzadine received a sentence of four and a half years as did Simon Keeler (UID 558268). Their co-accused Abdul Saleem (UID 41248) and Ibrahim Hassan (UID 605225) received sentences of three years and nine months and two years and nine months respectively, they were both convicted of 'inciting terrorism'. Shah Jalal Hussain (UID 605224) broke his bail conditions and received an additional three months to run consecutively with the two years he was ordered to serve for his fundraising activities, Abdul Muhid (UID 575861) was similarly sentenced for the same charge.

Authorities in Malaysia recently reported that two individuals, allegedly Jemaa Islamiyah (UID 57652) members Agus Idrus (UID 620111) alias Agus Purwantoro, and Abu Husna (UID 244509) who were captured in January 2008, have been handed over to Indonesia. Both individuals are said to have been involved in violent acts in the Poso area in 2000 and 2001. Agus is purported to have been the doctor for Noordin M. Top (UID 137993).

Abu Dujana (UID 253075) has been sentenced to fifteen years in jail. Dujana was the self-proclaimed leader of the terror group who orchestrated the 2002 Bali bombings. The lead judge in the panel stated that "The defendant, Abu Dujana, has been proven legally and convincingly of having engaged in the crime of terrorism." Dujana is reported to have hidden weapons and harboured wanted terrorists such as Nordin Mohamed Top as well as offering financial assistance to the militant group.

World-Check is conducting a number of compliance seminars in May within Northwest Europe. May 21st Luxembourg, May 22nd Brussels and May 23rd London. Presentations will be by Kenneth Rijock, Financial Crime Consultant for World-Check; John Solomon, Global Head of the World-Check Terrorism and Insurgency Research Unit (TIRU) and Patric Marshall, EMEA World-Check. Information regarding venues, times and presentations can be viewed here . Please be advised that there is no charge for these seminars but space is limited. If you are located in Luxembourg, Belgium, the United Kingdom or adjacent countries why not reserve your place now, to avoid disappointment.

On April 28th World-Check representatives are attending the Money Transfer Conference in Dubai, held at the Habtoor Grand Resort, Dubai. For more information click here .

World-Check announces the release of the 2nd edition of our White Paper entitled “Refining the PEP definition.” This highly anticipated paper expands further on the traditional Financial Action Task Force (FATF) definition of the Politically Exposed Person beyond its primary regulatory context. Download it here

World-Check has also announced the beta-launch of Country-Check, a premier risk ranking index for overall country risk. Register now it is free for a limited period only. Read the full press release or visit the Country-Check site here.

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