Austria Falls Short on Dirty-Money Prosecutions, DNFPB Supervision: FATF
The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) placed Austria in enhanced follow-up after finding the country’s framework for investigating and prosecuting money laundering remains weak more than a decade after similar concerns were first raised.
Sarkozy Takes Stand in Libya Funding Appeal
Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy returned to the witness stand on Wednesday in his appeal against a conviction for illegally accepting Libyan funds for his 2007 presidential campaign, contradicting two sworn statements from his onetime right-hand man, Claude Guéant.
Greek Government Clashes with EU Prosecutor’s Office over Corruption Probe
Greece’s ruling New Democracy party has launched an aggressive campaign against European Chief Prosecutor Laura Codruța Kövesi over her office’s investigation into a corruption scandal involving hundreds of millions of euros in European Union farm subsidies.
Swiss Court Dismisses Gulnara Karimova’s Graft Case
A Swiss federal court abruptly dismissed money laundering and bribery charges against the imprisoned daughter of a former Uzbek president on Tuesday after Uzbek authorities confirmed she would not be released to attend the proceedings before the statute of limitations runs out.
‘Father’ of Catalan Nationalism Deemed Unfit for €290mn Corruption Trial
A Spanish court has declared former Catalan leader Jordi Pujol, 95, unfit to stand trial in a long-running corruption case alleging his family concealed as much as €290 million in illicitly obtained wealth in Andorra
EU Anti-Fraud Office Launches Formal Probe of Peter Mandelson
The European Union’s anti-fraud office has opened a formal investigation into Lord Peter Mandelson, the bloc’s former trade commissioner and recently dismissed British ambassador to Washington, over alleged misconduct during his four years in Brussels.
House Republicans Vote to Roll Back U.S. Beneficial Owner Reporting
A Republican-led U.S. House committee voted on Tuesday to advance legislation that would exempt American limited liability companies and other businesses from reporting on their beneficial owners under the Corporate Transparency Act.
EU Adopts Broad Directive to Penalize and Prevent Corruption
The European Union on Tuesday adopted a new anti-corruption directive that creates bloc-wide minimum rules on corruption offenses, penalties, prevention measures, and enforcement, replacing a 2003 law on private-sector corruption and a 1997 convention covering EU and member-state officials, the Council of the EU said.
Wife of Spanish PM to Stand Trial for Alleged Corruption, Embezzlement
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is facing renewed political pressure after a judge ordered his wife, Begoña Gómez, to stand trial, deepening a corruption controversy that already involves several of his relatives and close associates.
OFAC Blacklists Nicaraguan Officials and Gold-Sector Companies
The U.S. Treasury Department on Thursday imposed sanctions on Nicaraguan government officials, firms operating in Nicaragua’s gold sector, and individuals tied to the forcible seizure of a U.S.-owned mining asset.