PEP ALERT ... KARADZIC TO FACE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL

This month the former President of the Serb Republic Radovan Karadzic (UID 7502) who in 1995 was indicted by the United Nations War Crimes Tribunal, was captured inside Serbia. Karadzic was initially handed over to the War Crimes Panel of the Belgrade District Court. It has been reported that he has now been transferred to the Netherlands where he will appear before the Hague Tribunal for Former Yugoslavia. The UN war crimes tribunal has charged Karadzic with 15 counts of genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and other atrocities committed between 1992 and 1996.

This month three individuals who were arrested in 2007 in connection with a cocaine smuggling operation which went wrong when their boat sank off the Irish coast have been sentenced. Martin Wanden (UID 662076) and Perry Wharrie (UID 214039) were convicted of three narcotics offences and sentenced to 30 years behind bars. The third individual on trial Joe Daly (UID 663290), was given a 25 year sentence for his part in the crime. World-Check first profiled Wharrie in 2004 three years prior to his arrest for the €440 million cocaine smuggling operation. Take time to read the related World-Check press release.

FORMER BROKERAGE FIRM BOSS JAILED

Phillip Bennett (UID 364016) has been sentenced to 16 years in jail for fraud involving an estimated US$1.5bn. Bennett was the former head of the brokerage firm Refco which collapsed into bankruptcy in 2005. Bennett was described by prosecutors thus "In terms of scope, length, sophistication, harm and criminal benefit, Bennett stands on a plateau of criminality that frankly makes comparisons difficult." To read more about his crime and his subsequent punishment please check out the verification source hyperlinks on his profile.

MAFIA STOPPED FROM BUYING TOP FOOTBALL CLUB

An official operation called “Broken Wings” has reportedly successfully put paid to Mafia connections buying one of Italy’s top football clubs. The enquiry which started in 2006 ascertained that Casalesi gangsters (a branch of the Naples Camorra crime syndicate) were planning to acquire SS Lazio Football Club allegedly with funds obtained from the clan's illegal activities including drug dealing. Seven arrests have been made with warrants of arrest issued for a further three persons who are currently at large. Reports also mention that 2 million euros was seized. World-Check had a number of those allegedly involved in the conspiracy including Giorgio Chinaglia (UID 439832) on the database more than two years ago. Use the Graphic Display on Chinaglia’s profile to reveal the breadth of the connections involved in this conspiracy.

BANK MANAGER TO PAY MORE THAN US$5M RESTITUTION

A former bank officer from Oklahoma has been jailed for 14 years for embezzlement and money laundering. Rhonda Harris (UID 820477) has also been ordered to pay restitution of more than US$5 million. Harris admitted that she had stolen from the bank for 25 years.

UK JAILS THREE MORTGAGE FRAUDSTERS

This month three individuals Mohammed Urfan Al Haq (UID 907469), Shazad Hussain Aslam (UID 907470) and Sandeep Kaur (UID 907471) have been imprisoned for mortgage fraud. Al Haq pleaded guilty to conspiracy to money launder and conspiracy to commit fraud, he was sentenced to four years behind bars. Kaur was also given a four year sentence for his part in the £1.5m mortgage fraud. The third accused Aslam, received five years. The judge commented on the crime by saying "This was a conspiracy to defraud of a truly sophisticated kind. It is to be clearly distinguished from the normal sort of mortgage fraud."

Readers who are wondering when fugitive accused arms trafficker Viktor Bout, dubbed the "Merchant of Death," and the "Lord of War" by the media, will be appearing in a US court will have to wait a bit more. Bout's extradition hearing in Thailand was delayed this week for the second time in two months, again due to issues with his lawyers not being present. …read more

Croatian Zvonko Busic (UID 908901) has spent more than 30 years behind bars for terrorism offences committed in 1976. This month authorities in the United States granted Busic parole and have deported him to his native Croatia. He is barred from entering the United States and Croatian authorities must now take control of his parole conditions. To read what happened in 1976 and subsequently, check the verification source hyperlinks on his profile.

Momin Khawaja (UID 222036) is currently on trial in Canada for his alleged involvement in an al-Qaida inspired British terror attack conspiracy. During the trial it was revealed that between the autumn of 2002 until the summer of 2003 Khawaja allegedly befreinded a Canadian woman Zenab Armand Pisheh (UID 907936) and requested her to open a bank account, send a debit card and also on one occasion to wire money to Britain. Reports state that the recipient of the debit card was convicted UK bomb plotting terrorist Omar Khyam (UID 222027). Khawaja is being tried in a federal court on seven charges of financing and facilitating terrorism.

EUROPE AML SEMINARS

For readers based in Europe, please note that World-Check is holding a week of AML seminars in key cities from 22-26 September inclusively. Don’t miss this chance to hear industry specialists share their expertise on a number of critical issues facing compliance and MLRO officers. There is no better way to get up to speed after the summer break. Full details of venues, dates and topics are all available on the World-Check Seminar page. Why not book now to avoid disappointment.

After a very successful Power Breakfast in New York earlier this year, World-Check will once again by visiting the Big Apple. More news on this event coming soon!

CYPRUS IN DECEMBER

World-Check is hosting AML Seminars in Cyprus in early December. On December 1 the World-Check team will be in Nicosia conducting both a morning and an afternoon AML seminar. The next day December 2, the team will visit Limassol, once again conducting both morning and afternoon sessions. More details of topics and speakers will follow in due course.

ANY WORLD-CHECK EVENTS IN YOUR AREA?

Make a point of visiting our regularly updated World-Check Seminars page to obtain more information on upcoming World-Check events.

To see how prepared your organisation is to face the many technological challenges which lie ahead in managing your AML programs, take the time to read ‘The Common Minimum Program on AML – Are you ready?’ which was recently added to our Industry Voices section. The article is penned by Mr Sarabjeet Singh, Partner with the Risk & Business Advisory Group: Process and Technology Solutions.

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