Press review
9 September 2022

Press review – Week of 5 September 2022

In this press review you will find two cases regarding the criminal prosecution of foreign nationals. First, the review addresses the conviction confirmed by the French Cour of Cassation of Rifaat Al-Assad ( Syria's former vice-president) for organized money laundering of public funds and aggravated tax fraud. Second, a Russian national (Alexander Vinnik), who served his sentence in France for money laundering as well, is being extradited to the United States. In European Union law, the CJEU confirms that the European arrest warrant does not require any diligence on the part of the issuer. And lastly, a ruling by the ECHR, asked to rule on the personal use of cannabis, confirms that it is not protected by the right to privacy.

 

#Anti-Bribery: Conviction of former Syrian Vice-President confirmed by the French Cour de cassation for money laundering and embezzlement.

On 7 September, 2022, the French Cour de cassation upheld the Paris Court of Appeal decision, convicting Rifaat Al-Assad for money laundering and embezzlement. The value of the confiscated assets should be returned to Syria in accordance with the mechanism for the restitution of assets fraudulently acquired by foreign leaders, adopted in 2021. > Read article

 

This intense legal battle over the extradition of Alexander Vinnik.

Alexander Vinnik, a Russian national prosecuted in cybercrime cases, has been at the center of an intense legal battle. After being convicted in France, he was trying to avoid extradition to the United States. > Read article

 

International Legal Developments 2021 in Review – American Bar Association

Navacelle co-author of the 2021 annual review of international legal developments of the American Bar Association International Law Section (ABA). > Read review

 

European arrest warrant: the CJEU shows little protection of the rights of the defense.

Is consistent with European Union law, the issuing authority’s failure to provide to the person sought under a European arrest warrant information about the reasons for the arrest and the right to challenge that decision. It even seems that European Union law requires the issuing authority not to provide this information, in order not to slow down the execution of the cooperation mechanism. > Read article

 

The therapeutic joint is not a right.

On 1 September, 2022, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) issued a decision Thörn v. Sweden in which it validated the fine imposed on the applicant, who remained severely disabled after an accident in 1994. The latter, for whom the painkillers prescribed by the doctors proved to be not very effective, chose to cultivate cannabis himself in order to ensure his personal consumption. He declares that his pains have faded and that he could, thanks to this, take up a full-time job. As this use is illegal in Sweden, he was sentenced to a 40-day fine. He invoked the disproportionate interference in his private life that his sentence entails, but this argument was not retained by the Court. > Read article

 

Related content

Press review
18 April 2025
Press review – Week of 14 April 2025
This week’s press review covers the extension of the investigation into Eric Garandeau for illegal taking of interest in the...
Event
13 April 2025
[Webinar] Supporting economic players in meeting the challenges of compliance – RIFAV
Stéphane de Navacelle and Julie Zorrilla took part in the International Network of Women Lawyers (RIFAV) - Africa training course...
Press review
14 March 2025
Press review – Week of 10 March 2025
This week’s press review covers the conviction of the Swiss bank UBS for moral harassment against whistleblowers, as well as...
Press review
7 March 2025
Press review – Week of 3 March 2025
This week’s press review covers an independent commission of enquiry set up by Betharram religious congregation, the Court of justice...
Press review
21 February 2025
Press review – Week of 17 February 2025
This week’s press review covers the decree signed by Donald Trump on corruption, the fine imposed by the Autorité des...
Press review
14 February 2025
Press review – Week of 10 February 2025
This week’s press review covers the upcoming summons of the mayor of Fréjus for illegal interest taking, the CJIP (French...
Event
27 January 2025
The internationalisation of whistleblowing: ensuring compliance within a global framework
A webinar organised by EQS on 28 January 2025 built for international compliance actors.
Analysis
6 January 2025
A look back at the last CJIP of 2024: Areva SA and Orano Mining SAS
On 9 December 2024, the Paris Judicial Court approved the CJIP (French DPA) concluded between Areva SA and Orano Mining...
Analysis
23 December 2024
Lessons from the analysis of first-instance court decisions on probity offenses by the French Anti-Corruption...
The French Anti-Corruption Agency (AFA) published an analytical note on 9 December 2024, regarding the prosecution of probity offenses, based...
Press review
13 December 2024
Press review – Week of 9 December 2024
This week’s press review covers the CJIP (DPA) concluded by Areva and Orano Mining for acts of corruption in Mongolia,...
Press review
22 November 2024
Press review – Week of 18 November 2024
This week’s press review covers the dismantling of a VAT fraud network in Europe, the opening of an investigation into...
Press review
15 November 2024
Press review – Week of 11 November 2024
This week’s press review covers the conviction of Marco Mouly for organizing his insolvency and the issue of an arrest...