‘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
Web of Shell Firms Tie Trump Operative to Russian Money in Albanian Politics
A network of shell companies tied to sanctioned Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska helped finance an Albanian conservative party’s hiring of a former Donald Trump campaign operative ahead of Albania’s 2017 general election.
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.
U.S. Moves Against Asian Scam Centers, Sinaloa Supply Chain
U.S. officials on Wednesday struck at Southeast Asian scam compounds defrauding Americans and a global fentanyl supply chain, announcing criminal charges, sanctions, and the seizure of hundreds of fraudulent websites in a pair of coordinated enforcement actions.
Leader of $140mn ‘Faith-Based’ Ponzi Scheme Charged with Wire Fraud
The founder of a Newnan, Georgia-based lender that marketed faith-based investments to conservative audiences was charged with felony wire fraud on Thursday, escalating a civil fraud case into a criminal prosecution nearly a year after regulators shuttered what they described as a $140 million Ponzi scheme.
Deutsche Bank Self-Reports Possible Russia Sanctions Violations
Deutsche Bank has alerted financial regulators of potential breaches of EU sanctions rules involving Russian clients after discovering that its retail unit had accepted deposits of more than €100,000 from individuals subject to the bloc-wide prohibitions.
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.
Magyar’s New Task: Dismantling the ‘Party-State’ Without Destroying the State
Hungary’s incoming prime minister, Péter Magyar, is pledging to oversee a broad anti-corruption campaign once in office, including the creation of new watchdog bodies and investigations of government contracts.
Orban’s Exit Comes with Shredded Documents and Sanctions Questions
Hungary’s incoming prime minister, Péter Magyar, accused outgoing Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó on Monday of shredding documents related to European Union sanctions.
In Spain, Two Corruption Cases Highlight Parties’ Legacies of Political Graft
Two criminal trials opening in Madrid this week have put renewed focus on allegations of kickbacks, illicit party financing, and broader political corruption in Spain.