Tag: Corruption
Hydra market taken down by German police and sanctioned by U.S.
Germany shuts down servers for Russian darknet marketplace Hydra and seizes $25.2 million USD in Bitcoin. (WAPO) The illegal marketplace was a Russian-language Darknet platform that had been accessible via the Tor network since at least 2015. Their focus was on trading in illegal narcotics. In addition, data spied out worldwide, forged documents and digital services were offered profitably via the platform. (theRecord) Hydra also offered stolen databases, forged documents, and hacking for hire services—including murder, apparently. (see for instance…
Justice Department Files False Claims Act Complaint Against 2 Lab CEOs, Hospital CEO and Others
The Justice Department has filed a complaint against two laboratory CEOs, one hospital CEO and other individuals and entities, alleging False Claims Act violations based on patient referrals in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute and the Stark Law, as well as claims otherwise improperly billed to federal healthcare programs for laboratory testing. According to the United States’ complaint, laboratory executives and employees at True Health Diagnostics LLC (THD) and Boston Heart Diagnostics Corporation (BHD) allegedly conspired with small Texas hospitals,…
Update: More Australian Sanctions against Russia
Key takeaways Russian and Belarusian individuals and entities are subject to extensive asset freezes and travel bans under Australian law. The export of alumina, aluminium ores, and aluminium hydroxide to Russia is banned Australian businesses with ties to Russian energy or telecommunication industries need to assess their exposure to these sectors as specific sectoral sanctions will apply from 28 March 2022. Bans on the import of oil and other energy products from Russia will apply from 25 April 2022 Australian…
New Interpol boss Nasser Al-Raisi investigated in France for ‘torture’ and ‘barbarism’
The new president of Interpol has been placed under investigation in France over allegations of “torture” and “acts of barbarism”. Ahmed Nasser Al-Raisi has been accused by an NGO of mistreating one of the main opponents of the Emirati regime. France’s anti-terrorism prosecutor’s office (Pnat) has opened a preliminary investigation, AFP sources reported on Friday. Al-Raisi was only appointed Interpol’s president in November, despite backlash from several human rights groups that he undermined the organisation’s mission. He has also served…
Deutsche Bank Fired Senior Bankers Over Strip Club Bill
Deutsche Bank AG fired a number of top bankers in New York after a tab run up at a strip club was expensed as legitimate business spending, according to people with knowledge of the matter. Ben Darsney, former Americas head of equity capital markets, Ravi Raghunathan, Brandon Sun and Daniel Gaona were fired after seeking reimbursement for a restaurant visit, the people said, asking not to be identified discussing a private matter. Once the bank discovered the issue, it decided…
Ukraine, media falsely report that Jewish Babyn Yar memorial was bombed by Russia
As reported by Times of Israel and X, Ukranian President Zelensky said that “Uman was brutally bombed where hundreds of thousands of Jews come every year to pray,” referring to the Hasidic pilgrimage site in central Ukraine. “Then Babyn Yar, where hundreds of thousands of Jews were executed.” And despite reports, the rocket that damaged the Kyiv TV tower did not in fact harm the Babyn Yar memorial, located in an adjacent area, according to a veteran Israeli journalist, Ron Ben…
UK Government sanctions 386 Russian Politicians
The UK Government has today (11 March 2022) announced sanctions against 386 members of the Russian parliament who voted to recognise two rebel-held regions in Eastern Ukraine Luhansk and Donetsk, as independent. The announcement means that 400 of the 450 members of Russia’s Duma, are now subject to British sanctions. The sanctions include asset freezes, UK travel bans and a prohibition on conducting business in the UK. UK Foreign Secretary, Liz Truss, explained that the sanctions were intended to target…
UK Government introduces sanctions on provision of aviation insurance and reinsurance services
On 8 March 2022, the UK introduced new sanctions preventing Russian companies in the aviation and/or space industries from accessing the UK insurance and reinsurance market directly or indirectly. Initially announced on 3 March 2022, the measures seek to “further tighten the growing economic pressure on Russia” and to ensure that the UK is “in line with sanctions imposed by [its] allies.” The New Aviation Insurance Restrictions The new reg 29A of the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 prohibits…
UK sanctions Sberbank Monday and loosens restrictions Tuesday
See the License here.
Global Russia Sanctions Update
A number of states and international actors have unveiled further sanctions measures on Russia in relation to its activities in or in relation to Ukraine. In a previous post, we outlined the initial measures imposed by the US and UK on Russia in relation to its recognition of Donetsk and Luhansk. We consider below the further actions taken by the US, EU, UK, and Australia in this regard. US On 22 February 2022, the US issued the following additional sanctions…
