#White collar crime:
Alexis Kohler affair: Paris Court of Appeal confirms charges against Élysée Chief of Staff
The Paris Court of Appeal rejected, on November 26, 2024, the statute of limitations raised by Alexis Kohler, Chief of Staff of the Élysée, thereby upholding the prosecution for unlawful conflict of interest. Mr. Kohler, is accused of having participated, as high official, between 2009 and 2016, in decisions concerning the shipping company MSC, run by members of his family. The defense argues that Mr. Kohler always refrained from decisions involving MSC and that some of the alleged facts are time-barred. However, the investigating chamber ruled that actions to conceal this conflict of interest prevented the statute of limitations from applying. The case also involves two former directors of the French State Investment Agency (APE), accused of a “pact of silence.” Anticor, a civil party in the case, welcomed the decision but raised questions about other aspects of the case. > Read article
China: The Defense Minister targeted by a corruption investigation, Beijing denounces «speculations»
According to the Financial Times, while Chinese President Xi Jinping has been leading an anti-corruption campaign among public officials since taking office, China’s Defense Minister, Dong Jun, is under investigation for corruption as part of a broader inquiry into corruption within the military. Both his predecessors were dismissed from the party due to suspicions of corruption. Contacted by AFP, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Chinese Embassy in Washington have remained silent. China has qualified the press accusations of corruption as “speculations”. > Read article
#Anti-Bribery and Corruption:
The Council of Europe calls on Switzerland to better prevent corruption
The Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) published a report on November 25, calling on Switzerland to step up its prevention of corruption, particularly within its government and law enforcement agencies. Although Switzerland is ranked among the world leaders in governance, the report considers that the Federal Council’s current strategy “could be more ambitious and more concrete”. It recommends greater transparency regarding the financial interests of senior officials, publication of recusals from Federal Council meetings, and specific measures to control lobbying and revolving door. > Read article
#International Sanctions:
Sanctions bypassed: Belarus’ microchip pipeline to Russia
According to the Belarusian Investigative Center (“BIC”), Belarusian companies are secretly supplying Russia and its army through intermediaries in Europe and Asia, with Western-made microchips, sustaining its production of fighter jets, drones used against Ukraine. For instance, the key firms Alexsvit Ltd. and Logisticheskaya Kompaniya Vostok linked to President Lukashenko have shipped numerous restricted microchips. The investigation highlights significant weaknesses in the application of international sanctions. As part of its investigation, BIC contacted Western regulators but did not obtain a response. > Read article
