Today’s “Asset Search News Roundup” is about politically exposed persons and a suspected laundering scheme.

  1. “FAQ” webpage focuses on the legal tools for freezing illicit assets dictators or other politically exposed persons might hide in Switzerland.  Via such tools, Swiss authorities recently froze $1 billion in assets believed to be connected to either Muhammad Hosni Mubarak, Muammar Gaddafi, or Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali.  Articles referring to this asset freeze are at Reuters and the BBC.
  2. A press release and / or restraining order suggest that 76 bank accounts across the globe were allegedly used in a scheme to launder illicit gambling proceeds.  A civil complaint related to the case and an indictment are chasing at least $3 billion through asset forfeiture or from money laundering penalties.  The indictment claims that the principals of three Internet poker companies, (i.e. PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker and Absolute Poker), participated in the suspected laundering scheme.  An April 15, 2011 video from FNN Online also describes the indictment.

 

(Last Edited January 22, 2012)

Copyright 2011-2012 Fred L. Abrams