TERROR CHECK

ABU SAYYAF GROUP MEMBERS ASSETS FROZEN

Forty year-old Philippines national Jainal Antel Sali Jr is the commander and intelligence officer of a terrorist group that World-Check profiled five years ago the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) (UID 7305). Reportedly Sali, also acted as adviser to the ASG leader Khadafi Janjalani (UID 28966) whom World-Check profiled in 2001. In July 2002 the Philippines Government charged Sali and two others for their supposed involvement in bombings in Zamboanga. He is also implicated in the Dos Palmas resort kidnappings. Earlier this year in February according to press reports he accompanied ASG leader and his second in command Isnilon Hapilon (UID 80218) to a meeting with Jemaah Islamiyah. Last month the US Treasury moved to freeze Sali's assets held in US jurisdiction and also prohibited transactions between him and US citizens. World-Check profiled him in October 2002… To read more about Sali's connections and to check out his associates go to UID 80217.

PARIS BOMBER EXTRADITED

On December 1, 2005 Rachid Rama (UID 41250), was finally extradited to France from the United Kingdom to face charges associated to the 1995 Paris bombings. He is also alleged to be a financier of Algeria's Armed Islamic Group (GIA). Ramda was arrested in Britain in November 1995 and has fought a protracted battle to avoid extradition to France. Two others have already been jailed for their part in the Paris bombings; Smain Ait Belkacem (UID 41249) and Boualem Bensaid (UID 41251) are serving life sentences for their involvement. Both had previously been sentenced to 10 years behind bars for being members of the GIA. Boualem Bensaid had earlier been sentenced to 30 years for his failed bombing attempt on a high speed TGV train in August 1995. To follow Rama's court case use our Newscheck facility or check back on his profile for updates.

UNCOVERING RISK..........................

STAY VIGILANT - ARE THESE YOUR CUSTOMERS?

US$30 MILLION FRAUDSTER SENTENCED

In December the former investment manager and owner of Boston radio station WBIX, Bradford C Bleidt (UID 261824) was jailed for eleven years and three months. His jail term is to be followed by three years of supervised release, he was also ordered to pay US$31.7 million in restitution. World-Check had the former investment manager profiled in November 2004, when the Securities and Exchange Commission obtained an asset freeze and temporary restraining order against him and his investment firm Allocation Plus Asset Management Co Inc. In June 2005 the United States Attorney's Office indicted him for swindling investors out of more than US$30 million. A month later he pleaded guilty to the 115 counts of mail fraud and a single count of money laundering. Did you know that World-Check monitors both the SEC and the USDOJ ensuring that our clients stay ahead of the game?

PEP ALERT...CABINET MINISTER STEPS DOWN

Member of the Rajya Sabha and Minister without Portfolio in the India Government, Natwar Singh (UID 232800) resigned from the Government in December amidst investigations into his possible involvement in the Oil for Food scandal, following the issuing of the Volcker Committee report. The 74 year old former External Affairs Minister, has repeatedly pronounced his innocence and to date no charges have been put to him. The government has appointed Justice Pathak (UID 322625) to look into the matter of two specific contracts mentioned in the report.

MAYORAL CANDIDATE ON DRUG CHARGES

Misilvan Chavier Dos Santos, reportedly ran for State Congress in 2002 and for Mayor of Tupiratins in Tocantins on October 2004 but he was unsuccessful on both occasions. This month the former Partido da Social Democracia Brasileira (PSDB) member was arrested and charged with narcotics trafficking. Reports suggest that the 500 kilograms of illegal narcotics originated in Colombia. Police reportedly alleged that he would have used the proceeds of the crime to fund another bid for political office. Dos Santos has denied these allegations. Check out his profile for updates UID 396092.

'HOSTAGE' NOW CHARGED IN BANK RAID

One year ago the Northern Bank in Belfast was robbed of some £26.5 million, the biggest cash theft in UK history. Chris Ward (UID 389974), an employee at the Northern Bank claimed in a television interview hours after the crime, that he and his family had been held hostage by the robbers for 24 hours and that he had been forced to assist the gang get away with the monies. At the end of November, Ward was taken in for questioning by authorities in Belfast. On December 7th he was formally charged. Ward will remain in custody and will appear in court via video link in January. Three men have already been charged in connection with the raid, Dominic McEvoy (UID 392218), Martin McAliskey (UID 392217) and Peter Kelly (UID 392216) . Keep up to date with the latest news on the arrests and court appearances; make use of World-Check's unique Newscheck facility.

MOST WANTED WAR CRIMINAL CAPTURED

Croation General Ante Gotovina (UID 34208), profiled on World-Check in July 2001 is wanted for war crimes against Serbian civilians in 1995. Gotovina was arrested in the Canary Islands on December 7th and will be transferred to The Hague, to face the International War Crimes Tribunal. Gotovina appears on a number of regulatory lists all of which are monitored by World-Check, these include Interpol, OFAC, Bank of England and he was also subject to a ban on entering any EU countries which in October this year was renewed for a further 12 months. Will he be found guilty? Follow the outcome with regular updates on World-Check or make use of our unique feature - Newscheck.

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"World-Check is of the opinion that PEPs in most countries maintain a position influence long after leaving office and certainly longer than 1 year. Corruption or the benefits of a corrupt past will become more apparent with time. There should be no time limit on our scrutiny of the finances of former dictators, presidents or strongmen. It is perhaps for this reason that few definitions provide any PEP 'expiration date'.”

David Leppan, CEO World-Check

An extract from 'Helping define the PEP definition'.

To read the entire White Paper on PEPs please click here.

November 2005

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