Counterparty

HSBC Sets Aside $1.1 Billion for Madoff Litigation

HSBC Holdings Plc will take a $1.1 billion provision in its third-quarter results to cover potential liabilities tied to investor lawsuits linked to Bernard Madoff’s Ponzi scheme, Bloomberg reported.

Photo: “Citibank main tenant of MacDonald House, Singapore” by Jnzl’s Photos, via Flickr, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 (CC BY 2.0). Source: Flickr photo page. Changes: edited for publication (cropped/toned)

Ex-Citi Banker Jailed in Singapore for Laundering Funds Linked to Chinese Syndicate

A former Citibank relationship manager has pleaded guilty and been sentenced to two years in jail for helping a Chinese criminal network launder money in Singapore, the Financial Times reported. 

“Ali Khamenei before voting in the 2017 Presidential election7” by Khamenei.ir, via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0). Source: Wikimedia Commons

FinCEN Flags $9-Billion Iranian ‘Shadow Banking’ Network 

The U.S. Treasury Department disclosed the existence of roughly $9 billion in 2024 financial activity tied to Iranian “shadow banking,” mapping a web of front companies and intermediaries used to sell sanctioned oil, launder illicit proceeds, and procure banned technology.

FINTRAC Imposes Record Fine Against Vancouver-Based Cryptomus

Canada’s financial intelligence agency has fined Vancouver-based cryptocurrency exchange Cryptomus nearly C$177 million, saying the firm failed to report thousands of transactions that may have involved sanctions evasion and money laundering tied to fraud, ransomware and child sexual abuse material.

Ten Years On, Iran Nuke Deal Ends with a Whimper

Iran has announced the official end of the 2015 nuclear agreement, saying it is no longer bound by the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and that all restrictions and related mechanisms under the accord are terminated, The Guardian reported. 

Louvre Jewel Heist Probed for Money-Laundering Motive

French investigators are treating Sunday’s smash-and-grab at the Louvre as a potential money-laundering operation, after four masked thieves stormed the museum’s Galerie d’Apollon and escaped with eight pieces of royal jewelry. 

“Frosinone Calcio – Benito Stirpe – vs Genoa (14 May 2023) — Luca Mazzitelli” by Antonio Fraioli, via Wikimedia Commons. Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Edited (cropped and color-corrected)

U.S. Charges 777 Partners Co-Founder Over Alleged $500-Million Fraud

Federal prosecutors on Thursday unsealed an indictment charging Josh Wander, co-founder of collapsed investment firm 777 Partners, with wire fraud, securities fraud and conspiracy, alleging he fabricated financial records and misled lenders and investors in a scheme worth up to $500 million. The 17-page filing in Manhattan federal court says Wander used bogus documents and […]