PEP ALERT ...PRESIDENT FACES WAR CRIMES CHARGES

This month the International Criminal Court (ICC) filed charges of genocide against the Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir (UID 5492). A formal request for an arrest warrant has also been made. Reportedly al-Bashir is accused of having masterminded and implemented a plan to eliminate a number of opposition ethnic groups. The statement from the ICC states “The Prosecution does not allege that AL BASHIR physically or directly carried out any of the crimes. He committed crimes through members of the state apparatus, the army and the Militia/Janjaweed in accordance with Article 25 (3)(a) of the Statute (indirect perpetration or perpetration by means).” Check the hyperlink verification sources on al-Bashir’s profile to read the full ICC statements.

This month a former Italian Finance Minister and the present governor of Abruzzo, Ottaviano Del Turco (UID 848), was arrested reportedly in connection with a probe into bribery within the Italian health care system. A number of other individuals associated with the financing of the public health care system in Abruzzo have also been arrested. The amount of money involved is believed to be more than €12.8m. Check out the display graph on del Turco’s profile to see who else is reported to have been involved.

DIRECTOR CHARGED WITH MONEY LAUNDERING

Authorities in Malaysia have charged G-Gold Gallery Sdn Bhd (UID 791171) director Daniel Choong Yew Chee (UID 892293) with 296 counts of money laundering. Choong is alleged to have transferred illegally obtained monies, reported to be RM54 million, to a number of other companies between December 2004 and May 2006. Another G-Gold Gallery director, Khoo Ban Sean (UID 891274) has also been charged with money laundering involving RM23.3 million. Both Khoo and Choong have claimed trial. Our research analysts are monitoring the news for further developments and will update profiles as more information becomes available.

JAIL FOR EMBEZZLER

A former director of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in New York (OCME) Natarajan R Venkataram (UID 396147), has been jailed for 15 years. Ventaktaram was convicted of embezzling more than US$13 million through contracts and purchase orders. He allegedly then directed this money through shell companies that he had set up with with the Director of Records at the OCME Rosa Abreu (UID 396148). In October 2007 Abreu pleaded guilty to the charges of conspiracy, embezzlement, and money laundering. In addition to his prison sentence Venkataram was ordered to pay US$2.97 million in restitution.

AUTHORITIES ARREST SUSPECTED MONEY LAUNDERERS

Dominican Republic authorities have arrested a number of individuals in the capital Santo Domingo, for their alleged involvement in a multi-million dollar money laundering and narcotics trafficking enterprise. Two individuals Esmeraldo Rodriguez (UID 900444) and Yared Henriquez Saviñón (UID 900445), were arrested and documents seized from the money exchange business 'Los Angeles' located in the capital.

An aircraft bearing false Red Cross markings landed this week in Freetown, Sierra Leone from Venezuela, and authorities found 700 kilograms of cocaine on board. They later arrested six individuals in connection with the flight, including crew members, and those taken into custody included a Colombian, a Venezuelan national, and an American. The seizure is believed to be the largest recovered by local law enforcement in Sierra Leone. …read more

This month three individuals Abdula Ahmed Ali (UID 482071), Assad Sarwar (UID 482085) and Tanvir Hussain (UID 482075) have pleaded guilty to conspiring to cause explosions. They are part of a group of eight individuals being tried in the UK for allegedly planning to blow-up transatlantic airliners. All eight suspects deny the charge of conspiracy to murder. The trial began in April this year.

Convicted ETA terrorist Iñaki de Juana Chaos (UID 19353) is to be released from prison in August. He has served 21 years behind bars for being part of a group who were responsible for assassinations during the 1980s.

TURKEY INDICTS ORGANISATION

Turkish authorities have indicted the Ergenekon Organization (UID 840535) Reportedly the indictment accuses the group of "establishing an armed terrorist organization, being a member of armed terrorist organization, assisting terrorist organization, removing Turkish Republic using force and violence, provoking the public to rebel against the Turkish government, having explosives and soliciting such offences." Check out the organisation's profile to see the leaders and network of associates

ASIA EVENTS

World-Check is hosting two Power Breakfasts in Singapore on the 29th and 30th July. Our team will be visiting Hong Kong on 1st August where they will be hosting a luncheon seminar. Full details of these events are available on the World-Check website.

After the European summer break World-Check will be presenting free compliance seminars from September 22nd – 26th in the following key cities: Geneva, Zurich, Vienna, Paris and Rome. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear expert speakers share their knowledge on a variety of crucial industry issues. The seminars also offer the chance to network with specialists and your peers in both the compliance and regulatory sectors. Space is limited so make your reservations now!

Visit our World-Check Seminars page for more information on upcoming World-Check events.

During June 2008 World-Check research analysts updated more than 27,000 existing profiles.

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