insert_link Business / Economics South Africa nears compliance with the Financial Action Task Force’s financial crime requirements South Africa is close to meeting the Financial Action Task Force's requirements to combat financial crimes like money laundering and terrorism financing. In his first medium-term budget policy statement for the seventh administration, Finance minister Enoch Godongwana said only six items remain to be addressed by February next year, with 16 of the 22 requirements already fully or mostly completed: todayOctober 31, 2024 16
insert_link South Africa Hawks confirm more arrests are expected in a four-billion-rand diamond investment scheme In S.A, the Hawks has confirmed that more arrests are expected in a four-billion-rand diamond investment scheme. Nine suspects, including diamond dealer Louis Liebenberg and his wife, Dezzi, have been arrested. They will appear in the Bronkhorstspruit Magistrate’s Court today, facing fraud, theft, money laundering, and racketeering charges. Hawks spokesperson Philani Nkwalase told Newzroom Afrika that investors were defrauded since 2019: todayOctober 24, 2024 28
insert_link Business / Economics Financial Intelligence Centre launches 2023/24 annual report The Financial Intelligence Centre which is mandated with combating money laundering, financing of terrorism, and proliferation launched the 2023/24 annual report in the capital on Wednesday. Speaking at the launch, FIC board chairperson, Charmaine van der Westhuizen says the FIC’s role is indispensable. The Financial Intelligence Centre achieved an unqualified audit opinion, with reserves increasing by 128% to N$44.3 million from N$19.3 million in the previous financial year. Total […] todayJune 26, 2024 48
World India’s lawmakers take oath without duo behind bars India's newly elected lawmakers took the oath of office Tuesday, but without two vocal government critics unable to take their seats because they are jailed on national security charges. One is the Sikh separatist Amritpal Singh, a firebrand preacher arrested last year after a month-long police manhunt in Punjab state. The other is Sheikh Abdul Rashid, a former state legislator in Indian-administered Kashmir, known popularly as […] todayJune 25, 2024 13
insert_link Africa Nigeria freezes over 300 suspected accounts to secure its foreign exchange market Nigeria's anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC says it has frozen about 300 accounts to ensure the safety of its foreign exchange market. todayApril 24, 2024 27
insert_link South Africa South Africa’s former National Assembly speaker faces 12 counts of fraud and corruption The Pretoria Magistrate's Court granted former Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula bail of 50 thousand rand. The case has been postponed to 4 June and a second accused will then be added to the case. The New York Times reports that Mapisa-Nqakula, 67, was charged in court on Thursday with 12 counts of corruption and one count of money laundering. She was accused of soliciting about 4.5 million rand in bribes and […] todayApril 4, 2024 13
insert_link Africa Africa begins licensing crypto as verified transactions hit US $117 billion By Conrad Onyango, bird story agency Regulators in Africa are taking steps to bring crypto entities under official oversight as treasuries seek to blunt fiscal risks amid a surge in demand for digital assets. Authorities in South Africa and Nigeria, the continent's most 'crypto-ready' countries, are leading the continent's efforts to place crypto dealers under a licensing regime to protect consumers against money laundering and terrorism-related risks. […] todayApril 2, 2024 13
insert_link Africa Kenya has tightened its laws to stop money laundering: why banks are the focus By Constance Gikonyo, University of Nairobi Kenya’s banking industry has in recent years been in the crosshairs of national, regional and international watchdogs, given the country’s role as a financial hub in eastern Africa. In 2023 Kenya enacted laws to curb money laundering and combat terrorism financing. While the laws have led to tougher sanctions on some banks, the risk of money laundering remains, and the country was […] todayMarch 28, 2024 19
insert_link Africa Kenya’s greylisting for weak action on money laundering and terrorism financing: what that means and what must happen next By Louis de Koker, La Trobe University Kenya and Namibia are the latest African countries to be placed on the Financial Action Task Force’s grey list over their weak measures against money laundering and terrorism financing. Being on the grey list is typically seen as an indictment of a country’s ability to identify and effectively redress financial crimes. It warns investors to be cautious in dealings with […] todayMarch 26, 2024 5