Reputation launderers, notably public relations agencies and law firms, are distorting the financial crime and sanctions risk profiles of kleptocratic regimes and oligarchs seeking to launder and protect their illicit gains according to academic and investigative researchers. Banks can also… Read More ›

corruption
Glencore agrees to pay over US$1.1 billion for commodity price manipulation scheme and FCPA violations
Glencore Ltd, a member of the multi-national commodity trading and mining firm headquartered in Switzerland, has pleaded guilty and agreed to pay US$485 million to resolve the US government’s investigations into a commodity price manipulation scheme. Separately but at the… Read More ›
Financial crime trends guidance issued by accountants
The International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) and the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) have produced an instalment on financial crime trends for their Anti-Money Laundering: The Basics educational series. It looks at the trends in criminal activity that underpin… Read More ›
Credit Suisse documents prompt calls for Switzerland to be considered for inclusion on EU’s AML/CFT blacklist
The European People’s Party (EPP), the conservative grouping which holds the biggest number of seats in the European Parliament, has called for a review of Switzerland’s banking practices and for the country’s possible inclusion in the EU’s list of countries… Read More ›
Corruption at a standstill says Transparency International
Transparency International’s (TI’s) annual Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) reveals that corruption levels remain at a standstill worldwide. Corruption is often most acutely felt in developing countries according to TI but it warns that too often it is forgotten that corruption is… Read More ›
Banks’ role in enabling graft under scrutiny after South African commission publishes part one of its state capture report
South Africa’s banks are bracing themselves for further findings of the judicial commission of inquiry into allegations of state capture after the first part of its report recommended that authorities investigate Nedbank and its employees over their alleged roles in… Read More ›
Focus on trade in radically overhauled new US strategy for an international fight against corruption
The US will work with international partners as well as domestically to prevent, limit, and respond to corruption and related crimes in a significant overhaul of the way it targets public corruption that includes a clear focus on international trade… Read More ›
Establish central beneficial ownership registries and outlaw bearer shares US senator tells FATF
The lead author of the US’ anti-money laundering (AML) act of 2020, senator Sheldon Whitehouse, is urging the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to strengthen its standards for countries to gather important data in the fight against money laundering. The… Read More ›