Financial Crime Weekly Episode 107

Hello, and welcome to episode 107 of the Financial Crime Weekly Podcast, I’m Chris Kirkbride. This week has been yet another busy week for financial crime. To be frank, they are almost always busy. Perhaps I need to be a bit more brutal in the edit. On sanctions, actions against human rights abuse of Palestinians, and coordinated action against the head of the LockBit ransomware group. On bribery and anti-corruption GRECO reports on progress made by Belgium, and some interesting research on Ukraine and anti-corruption. The money laundering news provides progress from the Council of Europe’s anti-money laundering body, MOVEYVAL on Georgia and Slovenia, and the market abuse news is focused on the publication of Market Watch 79 by the Financial Conduct Authority in the UK. There is also a round-up of this week’s cyber news. Let’s crack on.

As usual, I have linked the main stories flagged in the podcast in the description. These are:

American Bankers Association, ABA Letter to FATF re: R.16 Revision Proposal.

Baker McKenzie, US: Sanctions Enforcement in 2024: A Fireside Chat with OFAC Associate Director, Lawrence Scheinert.

Council of Europe, Council of Europe evaluates anti-corruption progress in Belgium.

Council of Europe (MONEYVAL), Council of Europe anti-money laundering body: Georgia strengthened preventive measures applicable to politically exposed persons, further progress needed.

Council of Europe (MONEYVAL), Slovenia has improved its criminal legislation against terrorist financing, says Council of Europe body.

Europol, New series of measures issued against the administrator of LockBit.

EY, Cybersecurity fears on the rise among US workers, with a vast majority concerned about AI in cybersecurity.

Financial Action Task Force, Türkiye.

Financial Conduct Authority, Market Watch 79.

Financial Conduct Authority, CP24/2: Our Enforcement Guide and publicising enforcement investigations - a new approach.

Financial Services Regulation Committee, Committee examining FCA consultation CP24/2 on publicising enforcement investigations.

Information Commissioner’s Office, Statement in response to reports of a cyber breach at the Ministry of Defence.

National Crime Agency, LockBit leader unmasked and sanctioned.

National Cyber Security Centre, Blog Post: What's happened to my data?

Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation, Financial Sanctions Notice: Global Human Rights.

Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation, Guidance: Financial sanctions, Global Human Rights.

Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation, Consolidated List.

Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation, Financial Sanctions Notice: Russia.

Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation, Guidance: Financial sanctions, Russia.

Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation, Financial Sanctions Notice: Russia.

Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation, Financial Sanctions Notice: Cyber.

Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation, Guidance: Financial sanctions, Cyber.

Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation, Guidance: Who is subject to financial sanctions in the UK?

Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation, Guidance: Financial sanctions guidance for ransomware.

Office of Foreign Assets Control, United States Sanctions Senior Leader of the LockBit Ransomware Group.

Office of Foreign Assets Control, Formal Launch of New OFAC Sanctions List Service Application.

Office of Foreign Assets Control, Sanctions List Service.

Royal United Services Institute, The FATF Gains Momentum in Breaking Africa's Cycle of Grey Listing.

Securities and Exchange Commission, "Adam Smith, the SEC, Data, and the Public Good" Prepared Remarks Before the 11th Annual Conference on Financial Market Regulation.

Stanford Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, Corruption in Ukraine and EU Accession.

The Commonwealth, Landmark anti-corruption conference in Ghana.

United Nations, Sustainable Development Goals.

UK government, Second US-UK Strategic Sanctions Dialogue: joint statement.

US Department of Justice, U.S. Charges Russian National with Developing and Operating LockBit Ransomware.

US Department of State, Joint Statement by the U.S. Department of State and UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Second U.S.-UK Strategic Sanctions Dialogue.