Bribery & Corruption

Application for the appointment of a Commissioner to collect evidence for a criminal investigation in India into Dr. RL Rajak and others for alleged corruption.

Government's Amended Trial Brief in USA v. Michael Carona and Debra Victoria Hoffman at the U. S. District Court for the Central District of California.

BRAZIL Trees and corruptionThe battle against the wood pulp industry intensified this month in the Brazilian courts, especially in those states where eucalyptus plantations have expanded the most.In Rio Grande do Sul, five environmental groups filed a lawsuit against the

Article based on an application for the appointment of a Commissioner to collect evidence for a criminal investigation into alleged corruption, fraud, and money laundering - pursuant to two requests for judicial assistance from Guatemala - that was filed at federal court in the USA on September 10, 2008. Individuals and businesses mentioned in the request for assistance include Byron Rodolfo Sanchez Corzo, Jose Benvenuto Conde Fernandez, Raul Alfonso Giron Galvez, Mercado de Futuros SA, Total Bank, MF Global, Inc., Harris Trust & Savings Bank, and Alaron Trading Corp.

Application for the appointment of a Commissioner to collect evidence for a criminal investigation in Guatemala into Byron Sanchez, a former Private Secretary of the President of the Guatemalan Congress; Jose Benvenuto Conde Fernandez and Raul Alfonso Giron Galvez for alleged fraud, embezzlement, bribery and money laundering.

ARGENTINA & VENEZUELA Extradition for Antonini WilsonGuido Alejandro Antonini Wilson, a Venezuelan US entrepreneur involved in the so called "suitcase scandal", may still be extradited to Argentina to stand trial for smuggling and money laundering, according to Assistant US Attorney

Application for the appointment of a Commissioner - pursuant to a request for judicial assistance from Albania - to collect evidence for a criminal investigation in Albania into Ylli Pinari, Mihal Delijorgji, Dritan Minxolli, Sokol Ngjeci, and Dashnor Caushi for alleged violation of the rules pertaining to explosive, inflammatory and radioactive substances, and corruption.

Bermuda is Britain's largest remaining colony, and by far its richest. Embarrassed by its imperial past, the administrations of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown have done their best to ignore the colonies, except for using the Bermuda Governorship as a bribe when close parliamentary votes need a push in the Government's favour. Bermuda's governing Progressive Labour Party has enjoyed the neglect Britain has shown. The PLP would not have been able to get away with much of its agenda had a socially-conscious parent been paying attention.

BRAZIL & INTERNATIONAL: Brazil Chairs the FATF; HONDURAS: Silence on Public Financial Informationto local observers; MEXICO: Western Union in Trouble; New Anti-Laundering Tariff; and PERU: Governing APRA Under Pressure; Montesinos Admits Crimes; Protests in Lima.

The United Kingdom Government has been asked to provide details of any and all steps it has taken to ensure that corruption and fraud in Bermuda is "properly investigated".The request was made in a new report on British Overseas Territories by the Foreign Affairs Committee, which is appointed by the House of Commons to examine the administration, expenditure and policy of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and its associated agencies.

A new report on British Overseas Territories by the Foreign Affairs Committee of the United Kingdom Government has highlighted evidence of corruption in the Turks and Caicos Islands, Bermuda and Anguilla. By comparison, the British Virgin Islands and the Cayman Islands emerged relatively unscathed. The Committee has recommended that the UK Government sets up a Commission of Inquiry to investigate corruption in the TCI, encourages the Anguillan government to establish an "independent inquiry" to look into corruption, and details the steps it has taken to ensure that allegations of corruption in Bermuda are "properly investigated".

Article based on an application to collect evidence for a criminal investigation into alleged corruption - pursuant to a request for judicial assistance from Russia - that was filed at federal court in the USA on June 3, 2008. Individuals and businesses mentioned in the request for assistance include Ferbane Global LLC, Edward Petre-Mears, InformCentre CJSC, Administration of the Federal State Unitary Enterprises (FGUP), and All-Russian Scientific Research Institute for Mineral Raw Material Synthesis (VNIISIMS).

COLOMBIA: Laundering Through Cows; MEXICO: Cubans Entering US through Mexico; Anti-Drug Plan on the Rocks; New Anti-Laundering Body; Salinas's Money to Return Home; NICARAGUA: Hard Times for Ortega; PERU: Something Smelly In Military Rations; Exoneration for Lawmakers Accused of Accepting Bribes; and REGIONAL: Haiti and Colombia the Most Vulnerable; Smear Campaigns against NGOs.

Article based on an application to collect evidence for a criminal investigation into alleged corruption by former President Miguel Angel Rodriguez Echeverria and others - pursuant to requests for judicial assistance from Costa Rica - that was filed at federal court in the USA on June 19, 2008. Individuals and businesses mentioned in the request for assistance include Miguel Angel Rodriguez Echeverria, Jose Antonio Lobo Solera, Edgar Valverde Acosta, Rodrigo Alberto Mendez Soto, Joaquin Alberto Fernandez Alfaro, Luis Adrin Quiroscarmona, Guido Sibaja Fonseca, Eduardo Fonseca Garcia, Leonel Barrios Arce, Hernan Bravo Trejos, Alfonso Guardia Mora, Eliseo Vargas Garcia, Christian Sapcizian, Tauro Comer SA, NCR Holding, Teleinvest, Holding de Valores y Capitales SA, Banco Internacional de Costa Rica, Banco Nacional de Costa Rica, Wachovia Bank, Citibank NA, First Union Bank International, Banco Cuscatlan, Cuscatlan International Bank, ABN AMRO Bank, Macro Investment Ltd., Servicios Notariales Q.C., Bank Atlantic, Ocean Bank, Banco Aleman Platina SA, International Bank of China, George Huang, Rafael Sequeira Garza, Donald Murrilo Pizarro, Grupo Ganadero, Inversiones Denisse SA, The Friendship Company Ltd., Costa Rica Electricity Institute, Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad, Alcatel, Alcatel de Costa Rica, and Pieles Costarricense.

Letter from Andrew Moray Stuart, Director of Aikate Properties Inc., stating that Russian national Vladlen Stepanov is the beneficial owner of Aikate Properties Inc.

Motion for Modification of Court Order and to Supplement Commissioner Appointment regarding a request from Antigua & Barbuda for judicial assistance for a criminal investigation into Lester Bird, Asot Michael, Josette Michael, Bruce Rappaport, Sir Ronald Sanders and others for suspected involvement in fraud, corruption, and money laundering.

Application for the appointment of a Commissioner to collect evidence for a criminal investigation in Costa Rica into the country's former President, Miguel Angel Rodriguez Echeverria, former head of state electrical company, Jose Antonio Lobo Solera, Alfonso Guardia Mora, Guido Sibaja, Edgar Valverde Acosta, Adrian Quiros Carmona, Jose Joaquin Fernandez, Eliseo Vargas Garcia, Rodrigo Mendez Soto, Leonel Barrios and Hernan Bravo Trejos for suspected corruption and illicit enrichment.

BOLIVIA: More Controls; COLOMBIA: Casa de Cambio Banned; COSTA RICA: Uncertain Future in the Egmont Group; HONDURAS: Hunger Strike against Corruption; MEXICO: Oil Dirty; PARAGUAY: A new era?; and VENEZUELA: Venezuela and Iran, Allies.

Article based on an application to collect evidence for a criminal investigation into alleged corruption by former Guatemala president Alfonso Antonio Portillo Cabrera - pursuant to two requests for judicial assistance from Guatemala - that was filed at federal court in the USA on May 23, 2008. Individuals and businesses mentioned in the request for assistance include Alfonso Antonio Portillo Cabrera, Eduardo Arevalo Lacs, Enrique Rios Sosa, Sergio Hugo Cardenas Sagastume, Maria Eugenia Padua Gonzalez, Otilia Portillo Padua, Juan Jose de Leon Piñeda, Jose Armando Llort Quiteño, Credito Hipotecario Nacional de Guatemala Bank, Salomon Abraham Molina Giron, Corporacion Financiera Americana, Confia International Corp., Corporacion Electronica de Guatemala, Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentina, Audi Bank, Bank UBS Luxembourg NLU, Excell Life International, The International Bank of Miami, The Oxxy Bank Ltd., Oxxy Financial Corp., The Transcom Bank Ltd., Hamilton Bank, Riggs Bank, Bibliotecas  residenciales Para La Paz, and Mario Rolando Torres Marroquin.

Application for the appointment of a Commissioner to collect evidence for a criminal investigation into Inform Centre JSC for suspected involved in fraud.

Application for the appointment of a Commissioner to collect evidence for a criminal investigation in Guatemala into Alfonso Antonio Portillo Cabrera, a former President of Guatemala; Eduardo Arevalo Lacs, a former Minister of National Defense; Enrique Rios Sosa and Sergio Hugo Cardenas Sagastume, former members ofthe Department of Finances of the Guatemalan Army, and others for alleged corruption.

Dictators consider the media in their countries as either a tool or a thorn in their sides. Throughout history, repressive leaders have taken control of the media to shut down opposition and the forum they provide for public discussion. The state of a country's media is usually representative of the degree of freedom enjoyed in that country. Bermuda has a daily newspaper, a twice-weekly and a weekly newspaper, all publicly owned. It has three TV channels attached to the US networks, and a number of locally operated channels pump out music videos and travelogues. Four or five radio stations are on the air. More than a dozen magazines are published routinely, year round. A handful of Bermuda-centric books appear every year.

Bermuda-based sham mutual fund IPOC International Growth Fund Limited, which appears to have been a vehicle to launder approximately $1 billion of criminal proceeds by Russia's Telecommunications Minister Leonid Reiman, has had US$45.5 million confiscated after admitting criminal charges in the British Virgin Islands.

Article based on an application to collect evidence for a criminal investigation into alleged corruption - pursuant to a request for judicial assistance from Guatemala - that was filed at the U. S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida on February 27, 2008. Individuals and businesses mentioned in the request for assistance include House of Change Forex, Felix Gutierrez Solano, Melba Angelina Fiallos Guillen, Edwin Alfredo Virula Galicia, Jorge Camilo Bosco Frech Sevilla, Hector Santiago Rodriguez Flores, Claudia Lorena Galvez Estrada, The International Bank of Miami, Zions Bank, Security Bank NA, Mission National Bank, Sterling Bank, Invercredit Financial Corp., Equity Enterprises Financial Corp., Equity Enterprises Corp., Inversiones y Comercio Inc., Forex S.A., a.k.a. Casa de Cambio Forex S.A.; Forexsa of Florida Inc.

Article based on an application for the appointment of a Commissioner to collect evidence for a criminal investigation into alleged money laundering, tax evasion, corruption and illegal currency trading - pursuant to a request for judicial assistance from Brazil - that was filed at federal court in the USA on February 20, 2008. Individuals and businesses mentioned in the request for assistance include Celso Patricio de Aquino Filho, JPMorgan Chase, Cortez Cambio e Turismo, Beacon Hill Service Corporation, International Bank of Miami, CB Financial and BCF Internacional.

Article based on an application for the appointment of a Commissioner to collect evidence for a criminal investigation into alleged corruption - pursuant to a request for judicial assistance from Argentina - that was filed at federal court in the USA on February 5, 2008. Individuals and businesses mentioned in the request for assistance include Ricardo Jose Etchegaray, and MBNA America.

Application for the appointment of a Commissioner to collect evidence for a criminal investigation in Brazil into federal tax inspector Celso Patricio de Aquino Filho for alleged tax evasion and money laundering.

Application for the appointment of a Commissioner to collect evidence for a criminal investigation by Argentina into an alleged failure to report purchases while serving as a military attache.

BRAZIL: Investigating Swiss Banks; CHILE: First Money Launderer in Prison; COLOMBIA: Parapolitics in Action; GUATEMALA:New President; MEXICO: Arellano Félix Sentenced to Life; Friction over Merida Initiative; The Mexican Connection in the Wachovia and Harris banks Case; PERU: 30 Years for Fujimori?; REGIONAL: ‘Specially Designated' Latin Americans; and VENEZUELA: Seedy Diamonds.

Bermuda took another step down the road from well-respected, relatively-clean, model democracy to internationally-ridiculed, corruption-ridden, banana republic when the office of Bermuda's Auditor General, Larry Dennis, was raided by police for the second time in five months on November 17, 2007.

Article based on an application to collect evidence for a criminal investigation into alleged corruption and fraud - pursuant to a request for judicial assistance from India - that was filed at federal court in the USA on November 6, 2007. Individuals and businesses mentioned in the request for assistance include Arun Roye, Victor Baiza, Jr.; Buitron & Baiza Caskets & Funeral Supplies, SK Malik, and FB Singh.

Application for the appointment of a Commissioner to collect evidence for a criminal investigation in Brazil into Antonio de Jesus Lourenco and others for suspected involvement in money laundering regarding Beacon Hill Service Corporation.

Application for the appointment of a Commissioner for a criminal investigation in Ukraine into Andrij Volodymyrovych Tsvetkov, Ruslan Viktorovych Reydel and others for alleged corruption, tax evasion, forgery, embezzlement, and money laundering.

BRAZIL Fight against drugs controversy Brazil is involved an increasingly angry debate about the role of the security forces as they fight against drug trafficking mafias in shanty towns. The government decided to leave this fight in the army's hands

Criminal charges are being prepared in the British Virgin Islands against a Bermuda domiciled investment fund that is suspected of being a money laundering vehicle for Russia's Telecommunications Minister, Leonid Reiman.The BVI authorities have drafted "preliminary charges" against IPOC International

Article based on an application for the appointment of a Commissioner to collect evidence for a criminal investigation into money laundering - pursuant to a request for judicial assistance from Spain - that was filed federal court in the USA on October 11, 2007. Individuals and businesses mentioned in the request for assistance include Banco de Sabadell, Banco de Santander International, Banco de Chile, Augusto José Ramón Pinochet Ugarte, Daniel Lopez, John Long, Maria Lucia Hiriart Rodriguez, a.k.a. Lucia Hiriart de Pinochet; Marco Antonio Pinochet Hiriart, Maria Soleda Olave Gutierrez, Augusto Osvaldo Pinochet Hiriart, Ines Lucia Pinochet Hiriart, Hernan Ubaldo Garcia Barzelatto, Rodrigo Andres Garcia Pinochet, Walter Thieme, Maria Veronica Pinochet Hiriart, Hernan Garcia Barzelato, Julio Cesar Ponce Lerou, Daniela Veronica Ponce Pinochet, Francisca Lucia Ponce Pinochet, Jacqueline Maria Pinochet Hiriart, Ivan Noguera Phillips, Alejandro Ponce Pinochet, Guillermo Martinez, Maria Jose Martinez Pinochet, Constansa Martinez Pinochet, Jaime Amunategui, Sofia Amunategui Pinochet, Lucia Amunategui Pinochet, Oscar Custodio Aitken Lavanchy, Monica Ananias Kuncar, Jorge Juan Ballerino Sandford, Hernan Briones Gorostiaga, Axel Buchheister, Carlos Caceres Contreras, Eugenio Fernandez Castillo Cadiz, Monica Castillo Venegas, Ramon Collao Mira, Luis Cortes Villa, Guillermo Garin Aguirre, Hernan Guiloff Izikson, Ricardo Izurieta Caffarena, Mortimer Jofre, Alberto Kassis Sabag, Jose Miguel Latorre Pinochet, Juan Ricardo Mac Lean Vergara, Maria Leonor Oppermann Soza, Alfonso Marquez de la Plata Irarrazabal, Maria Veronica Molina Carrasco, Jorge Prado Aranguiz, Edgar Tatman, Gabriel Vergara Cifuentes, Abanda Finance Limited, Althorp Investment Company Limited, American Engineering, Ashburton Company Limited, Assec Mimosa, Belview Inc., Belview International Inc., Belview International SA, Belview SA, Cititrust (Bahamas) Ltd., Corwall Overseas Corps., Chile Market Investments Ltd., Eastview Finance Inc., Fundacion Pinochet, a.k.a. Fundation Pinochet; GLP Limited, Levant Management, a.k.a. Rio Investment Corporation, Intercam Turismo, Ivoryseas Marine Co. Ltd., Marchill Investments Ltda., Maxficorp., Meritor Investments Ltd., Monees, Morgreen Holding United, Redwing Holdings Incorporated, RGS Title (Trustee Account), Pulsar International, Redwind Holdings Inc., Santa Lucia Trust, Sociedad de Inversiones Belview Int SA, Sociedad de Inversiones Fermar Limitada, Tasker Investment Limited, Transamerica Merchant International, Trilateral International Trading Ltd., a.k.a. Trilateral Trading Ltd.; Trust IT-5978N, and Trust MT-4964.

Application for the appointment of a Commissioner to collect evidence for a criminal investigation in India into alleged fraud and corruption by Indian Ministry of Defense officials Arun Roye, SK Malik and FB Singh and Victor Baiza, Jr., d.b.a. Buitron & Baiza Caskets & Funeral Supplies, regarding contracts to supply the Indian Army with caskets and body bags.

Application for the appointment of a Commissioner to collect evidence for a criminal investigation in the British Virgin Islands into IPOC International Growth Fund Ltd., Jeffrey Galmond, Michael Ludwig Rudolf North, Lapal Limited, Albany Invest Limited and Mercury Import Limited for allegedly laundering the proceeds of corruption by Russia's Minister of Telecommunications, Leonid Reiman.

First Superseding Indictment filed by the USA against Michael S. Carona, Deborah Carona, and Debra Victoria Hoffman at the U. S. District Court for the Central District of California.

COLOMBIANarco arrested Diego León Montoya Sánchez, one of the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives, has been arrested by Colombian authorities near Zarzal in the Colombian state of Valle del Cauca. Montoya has been on the FBI's “Ten Most Wanted” list

Bahamas resident Yank Barry will face a new trial on charges of money laundering and bribery following an adverse ruling by a federal appeals court in the United States.

Application for the appointment of a Commissioner for a criminal investigation into Augusto Pinochet Ugarte, Maria Lucia Hiriart Rodriguez, Oscar Custodio Aitken Lavanchy, Marco Antonio Pinochet Hiriart, Maria Soleda Olave Gutierrez, Augusto Osvaldo Pinochet Hiriart, Maria Veronica Molina, Ines Lucia Pinochet Hiriart, Hernan Ubaldo Garcia Barzelatto, Rodrigo Andres Garcia Pinochet, Walter Thieme, Maria Veronica Pinochet Hiriart, Julio Cesar Ponce Lerou, Daniela Veronica Ponce Pinochet, Francisca Lucia Ponce Pinochet, Jacqueline Maria Pinochet Hiriart, Ivan Noguera Phillips, Alejandro Ponce Pinochet, Guillermo Martinez, Maria Jose Martinez Pinochet, Constansa Martinez Pinochet, Jaime Amunategui, Sofia Amunategui Pinochet, Lucia Amunategui Pinochet and others for alleged money laundering.

ARGENTINA & VENEZUELAThe mystery of the Venezuelan suitcases The scandal over the arrival to Argentina of a Venezuelan businessman carrying $800,000 in undeclared cash on a government hired jet has had its first victims. Claudio Uberti, the head of the

An account at Cayman National Bank was used by an Italian family to help defraud a state supported Italian bank out of approximately US$576 million in a scheme that also involved bribing a judge to fix litigation, it has been

Grenada's former chief offshore regulator, Michael Creft, has admitted that the fraudulently operated First International Bank of Grenada bribed regulators and Government members, including Prime Minister Keith Mitchell. Creft has also acknowledged that he committed perjury in support of FIBG's failed

USA's Sentencing Memorandum in USA v. Rita L. Regale, Douglas C. Ferguson, Robert J. Skirving, and Laurent E. Barnabe at the U. S. District Court for the District of Oregon. Editor's Note: This document is notable for its reference to testimony by Grenada's former chief financial services regulator, Michael Creft, in which he acknowledged bribery and corruption.

ARGENTINA: Minister Resigned as Monday Laundering Suspect:; BRAZIL: The Berezovsky Connection; Lawsuits against Investigative Reporting; CHILE/PERU: Thicker and Thicker; EL SALVADOR: New Initiative to Report Financial Transactions; MEXICO: Former Governor Extradited; Frozen Money to Be Shared; NICARAGUA/PANAMA: Alemán Is Summoned.

Antigua Commercial Bank has been ordered to pay damages to a former government minister, Hilroy Humphreys, for disclosing details of his accounts to local authorities for a criminal investigation into alleged corruption.

France has applied to extradite 71-year-old former Panama dictator Manuel Antonio Noriega from the United States, where he is due to be released from prison on September 9, 2007 after serving nearly 18 years of a 30-year prison sentence for drug-trafficking, racketeering, and money laundering.

GUATEMALA: Babies and Money; MEXICO: Pro and Anti Casinos Clash; Police: A Tale of Impotence and Corruption; After 30 Years, Guilty; PARAGUAY: New Law against Money Laundering; and PERU: Cocaine, Growing; Fujimori Arrested, Again.