Graft

Ex-Enron CEO broke terms of release - prosecutors


US Prosecutors have claimed that former Enron chief executive Jeff Skilling broke the terms of his $5 million bond during a bizarre alcohol-fueled fracas in New York earlier this month. He earlier made headlines for writing out his own bail check (see March Sprout) and was freed on Feb. 19 after pleading not guilty to 35 counts of fraud, insider trading and lying about Enron's finances...  MORE>

Irish Police and Revenue informed of concerns on credit union


The Irish police (‘Garda’) and Revenue Commissioners have been informed of concerns about possible money laundering and fraud at Firhouse Credit Union, Dublin, according to sources close to the Irish League of Credit Unions (ILCU).  MORE>

30 Mln Euro in Fake Banknotes Seized in Italy Parete


A mint for fake banknotes was uncovered in Parete, southern Italy, and fake banknotes worth over 30 mln euro were seized, it was reported on April 25, 2004. The confiscated banknotes were of a 50 euro denomination each. According to police estimations … MORE>

ICourt Rejects Italy's Bid for Parmalat Documents


Switzerland's highest court has rejected a request by Italy for access to bank accounts that were frozen in an inquiry into a reported multibillion-dollar fraud at the Parmalat dairy empire.    MORE>

Money laundering warning on EU expansion


Banks and other financial bodies are bracing themselves to face a potential surge in money laundering when the European Union expands at the beginning of next month, according to Deloitte & Touche. The warning comes as practitioners of the Financial Action Task Force, the international body that combats money laundering, meet…  MORE>

EU applying ‘double standards’ on graft


Transparency report claims corruption ‘out of control’   MORE>

OLAF case against Stern journalist descends into parody of justice


The corruption allegation leveled against The Stern’s correspondent in Brussels, Hans-Martin Tillack, by the EU’s anti fraud office (OLAF) is unfounded. Legal dossiers seen by The Sprout clearly show that the basis of OLAF’s instruction – to arrest Tillack in March – rested entirely on an informant’s opinion, indicating that a campaign against him is being conducted from a very high level in OLAF. MORE>

EC CALLS FOR MORE CO-OPERATION TO STAMP OUT VAT FRAUD


The European Commission appears to have conceded that it is making little progress with stamping out VAT fraud. During April it launched an appeal to EU governments to step up their co-operation in the fight against VAT fraud, in its annual VAT report. The study admits that it is difficult to quantify the level of fraud. However, the Commission…   MORE>

Judge Says Swiss Bank Secrecy Hitting Holocaust Payouts


Switzerland's unnecessary banking secrecy is hindering the distribution of settlement money to Holocaust survivors who held accounts there during the Nazi era, a U.S. federal judge said in comments broadcast recently. . MORE>

Belgian CTIF Investigates 5,764 Alleged Money Laundering Cases


A total 5,764 cases of alleged money laundering were investigated by Belgian office for the prevention of financial crimes CTIF from 1993 to 2003 and were transferred to Belgian prosecution, CTIF's director, Jean Spreutels, said on April 20, 2004.
 
Some 10 % out of the 5,764 cases led to a sentence. A total 474 mn euro were confiscated by CTIF during the investigations. CTIF has not yet processed all the reports for suspected money laundering...  MORE>

Man behind international medical insurance fraud ring sentenced


A Ukrainian man at the center of a cross-border medical insurance fraud case involving millions of dollars was sentenced in April to more than six years in prison. Konstantyn Pekerman, 38, was behind a complex scheme involving about $7 million in bogus Medicare claims for the elderly submitted in the name of dead doctors and victims of identity theft, according to… MORE>

Dexia chairman indicted over alleged tax fraud


Francois Narmon, chairman of Dexia, has been indicted by a Belgian magistrate along with three other current and former executives over alleged inheritance tax fraud at the Franco-Belgian bank in the 1990s. Dexia said the indictments were part of a five-year-old investigation into procedures concerning death duties undertaken by the Belgian part of the bank, when it was still called Credit Communal. MORE>

Dutoux


Update following last month’s articles which named the names.… MORE>
 

News In Brief

Want a new job? Put up a billboard, Baltic battered Belgian soldier says “yes!” UKIP falls foul of data protection The bank, the bag, a bomb threat and an old lady  Many Dutch doctors admit sex with patients-survey  Bungling Belgian police brawl in identity dispute   German woman parks car, sparks nude protest How do you spell ‘Augean stables’ in Spanish? Qui Educare educares?

Media Draining

The Bayonet (media opinion without a trace of vitriol)


Dutroux press coverage – a chilling template for future EC press coverage?  MORE>

Cuttings
 

Despatches

World News Update

Delusions of Adequacy

MEP Notebook: Robert Goodwill – One track mind

Anthony Coughlan welcomes the new EU members, sort of

EastEnders – enlargement diary from a former EU candidate country

Maltese Cross

Scratchings from a small scrotum

Strangers in my Tights – diary of a Swedish MEP who just can’t say ‘no’

Flanders Slanders – Belgian politics and a nostalgic view

of democracy in this small country

French Letter

Food Review The Maxburg