VAN HAGEN – Financial Treason & Crime

ISOBEL VAN HAGEN, 14 July 2021

A German tax attorney, and the mastermind behind the so-called biggest tax scandal of the century, was arrested by Swiss authorities last week on an extradition warrant. An expert told the OCCRP on Tuesday that like all others involved in the multi-billion affair, Hanno Berger too will say he never broke any law.

Berger is believed to have helped organize and promote share deals that exploited a loophole in German law used by some 900 financial institutions and individuals across Europe. The scheme became known as Cum-Ex and has cost treasuries across the continent some 55 billion euro (US$65 billion). Continue reading “Article: Architect of the Century’s Biggest Tax Scheme Arrested in Switzerland”

06/01/2021

Article: Asian Police Seize $83 Million in Operation Against Online Financial Crime

Article - Media, Publications

Asian Police Seize $83 Million in Operation Against Online Financial Crime

ISOBEL VAN HAGEN, 01 June 2021

Focusing on romance scams, online sextortion, investment fraud, voice phishing and money laundering associated with illegal online gambling, police in nine Asian countries arrested more than 500 suspects and seized US$83 million, Interpol said on Thursday.

Authorities worldwide have repeatedly warned that online fraud is continuing to increase and have stepped up joint efforts to fight it.

This operation, codenamed “HAECHI-I,” assembled law enforcement across Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Korea, Laos, The Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Between September 2020 and March 2021, they opened more than 1,400 investigations of online fraud and while many of the cases remain ongoing, Interpol said, 892 cases have been solved. Continue reading “Article: Asian Police Seize $83 Million in Operation Against Online Financial Crime”

05/28/2021

Article: Bolivia’s Ex Minister Charged in Bribery and Money Laundering Scheme

Article - Media, Publications

Bolivia’s Ex Minister Charged in Bribery and Money Laundering Scheme

ISOBEL VAN HAGEN, 28 May 2021

Bolivia arrested its former interior minister earlier this week over an alleged bribery and money laundering scheme that enabled a U.S.-based company to secure a government contract, the U.S. Department of Justice announced on Wednesday.

Arturo Murillo, along with another former Bolivian official, Sergio Rodrigo Mendez, are accused of receiving bribes from a Florida-based company and later using the American financial system to launder those bribes. Three U.S. citizens were also charged in the scheme, which took place between November 2019 and April 2020. They were arrested in Florida and Georgia. Continue reading “Article: Bolivia’s Ex Minister Charged in Bribery and Money Laundering Scheme”