Pages

Saturday, December 31, 2016

Corruption Currents around the world


By 
SAMUEL RUBENFELD
Dec 30, 2016 12:31 pm ETA daily roundup of corruption news from across the Web. We also provide a daily roundup of important risk & compliance stories via our daily newsletter, The Morning Risk Report, which readers can sign up for here. Follow us on Twitter at @WSJRisk.
Bribery:
President-elect Donald Trump‘s disdain for the FCPA is unlikely to dampen enforcement. (FT)
Demonetization has changed the way Indian officials take bribes. (Economic Times)
A Chinese general is being investigated for suspected bribery, the defense ministry said. The deputy head of Taiwan affairs was charged with bribery. Beijing, which is set to launch a new anti-graft system, says its anti-corruption drive has gained momentum. (Reuters, Nikkei, Reuters, Forbes, Reuters)
The former chief rabbi of Israel reached a plea agreement in a bribery and fraud case. (Times of Israel)
A former Jakarta city councilor was sentenced to seven years in prison for bribery and money laundering. (Jakarta Post)
Cybercrime:
How did Russia recruit elite hackers for its cyberwar? (NY Times)
An NSA document leaked by Edward Snowden relating to a murdered journalist reveals how Washington knows the pattern of Russian hacking. (Intercept, Huffington Post)
Germany sees the hand of Russia in an escalating cyberwar. (FT)
Though there was no evidence of hacking of U.S. voting machines, they remain vulnerable to breaches, a review found. (Guardian)
Insurance firms expect a surge in cyber policies. (FT)
Law firms are rushing to improve their defenses.; they’re a top cybercrime target. (FT, FT)
Ransomware now affects SmartTVs. (Slate)
Money Laundering:
Money launderers are doing well in Germany. (Handlesbatt)
Switzerland is moving further from bank secrecy as it completes a U.S. program. (FT, press release)
Demonetization is targeting cashiers and oncologists, as well as bank branch managers and lawyers. Authorities seized jewelry in one case. A bank cashier committed suicide after being accused of money laundering. (Indian Express, Hindustan Times, Hindustan Times, India Today, Indian Express, Deccan Chronicle)
London continues to be a place for kleptocrats to buy property. (NY Times)
Three people charged in a Malaysian money laundering case received hefty bail requests. (NST, FMT)
The Philippine senate is set to tackle money laundering in casinos. (GGRAsia)
Four Missouri men pleaded guilty to laundering money linked to sales of synthetic marijuana. (ABC17)
Sanctions:
The fallout of the U.S. response to Russian interference in the U.S. presidential election continues, but Russian President Vladimir Putin declined to expel U.S. diplomats. He will respond to the U.S. moves after Mr. Trump’s inauguration. The sanctions put Mr. Trump on a collision course with the Republican-led Congress, though one of his allies called the sanctions stupid. Notably, Russia’s top spy was left off the U.S. blacklist. (Newsweek, Daily Beast, Reuters, AP, BuzzFeed, Bloomberg, Roll Call, Daily Beast, Yahoo)
Terrorism Finance:
Trinidad’s government said it didn’t have the names of those it accused of financing terrorism. (Trinidad Express)
Transparency:
The background of offshore companies is explained here. (Washington Post)
General Anti-Corruption:
The U.S. continues to be the global cop on the financial-crime beat. (AFP)
Venezuela’s military is trafficking food as the country’s people go hungry. (AP)
The head of South Korea’s pension fund was detained as the country’s corruption scandal continues. He’s denied the allegations. (AFP, BBC)
Sports: Italy’s sports minister is under investigation in a procurement corruption case; he denies the allegations. Indonesia cleared its soccer chief of corruption allegations. (Reuters, CNA)
The town of Cudahy, Calif. was riven by corruption. (LA Times)
Corrupt officials in Nigeria drive fancy cars but can’t afford the gas. (LA Times)
The ugly side of Silicon Valley is laid out here. (Fortune)
Two journalists were charged in Angola for reporting on corruption. (CPJ)
Wealthy people, according to Mr. Trump’s soon-to-be chief economist, cannot be corrupt because of their wealth. (NY Mag)
Share this: 


No comments:

Post a Comment