PARIS, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Nine people suspected of having taken part in raising funds for the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU),which is regarded as the most fearsome of fundamentalist organizations in Central Asia, have been formally placed under investigations, the French media has reported.
These people, of whom a majority is Turkish and other French, have been placed under investigation for "criminal association in relation with a terrorist enterprise and financing of terrorism" by Thierry Fragnoli and Philippe Coirre, French anti-terrorist judges, a judicial source said .
Four of the suspects, who are seen as the main masterminds behind the network, are expected to be presented before a judge of freedoms and detention (JLD) where the prosecutions will ask for them to be placed in remand custody pending investigations.
The five others, who are mainly presented as fundraisers for the organization, will be released under judicial control, said the same source.
During searches at the homes of the suspects, investigators had managed to seize thousands of euros in cash and two handguns, said a source close to the case, adding that computer hard drives and large quantities of documentation had also been recovered.
According to French investigators, the network, which is suspected of financing terrorism related activities, had also tried to win converts to their cause at two mosques in the Lyon region.
A propaganda video was seized by investigators, according to a security officer, who said that the group was eventually trying to transform into a vehicle smuggling young people to combat coalition troops in Iraq.
The nine people were all arrested in France, notably on May 16,during a vast police operation by officers from the Directorate of Territorial Security (DST) backed by elements from the RAID, an elite police unit that specializes in Research, assistance, intervention and deterrence.
Two other people, described as central figures in the network, were arrested the same day in Germany and the Netherlands, after French judicial authorities issued international warrants against them. The two are set to be extradited to stand trial with their brothers in arms.
According to intelligence circles, IMU, which is suspected to have links with al Qaida, was formed in 1998 with the aim of overthrowing Uzbek President Islam Karimov. The organization reportedly launched a series of guerrilla operations against his regime from its bases in Tajikistan and Afghanistan in 1999, 2000 and 2001.
After IMU military commander Juma Namangani died in Afghanistan in 2001, the organization, a close ally of the Taliban, has been especially active in the tribal areas near the common Afghan-Pakistani border.
Editor: Song Shutao
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Selasa, 22 Mei 2012
UK Treasury backs warning of "serious threats" to international finance
The UK's Treasury has backed warnings from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) that the international financial system could face "serious threats" from deficiencies in the anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorist financing (CTF) systems of countries including Iran and Pakistan.
Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan were also flagged up by the FATF as countries that face AML and CTF deficiencies, along with the island of Sao Tome off the coast of west Africa and the northern part of Cyprus.
As a result of the warnings, the Treasury has advised all UK businesses covered by the Money Laundering Regulations 2007 to treat transactions from Iran and Uzbekistan as "situations that by their nature can present a higher risk of money laundering or terrorist financing" and therefore require increased scrutiny.
People operating under the authorisation of the Financial Services Authority should also consider the advice when developing their counter-financial crime systems in order to minimise risk, it added.
The FATF is an inter-governmental body that seeks to develop nationally and internationally adopted anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing policies.
Source: Bobsguide
Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan were also flagged up by the FATF as countries that face AML and CTF deficiencies, along with the island of Sao Tome off the coast of west Africa and the northern part of Cyprus.
As a result of the warnings, the Treasury has advised all UK businesses covered by the Money Laundering Regulations 2007 to treat transactions from Iran and Uzbekistan as "situations that by their nature can present a higher risk of money laundering or terrorist financing" and therefore require increased scrutiny.
People operating under the authorisation of the Financial Services Authority should also consider the advice when developing their counter-financial crime systems in order to minimise risk, it added.
The FATF is an inter-governmental body that seeks to develop nationally and internationally adopted anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing policies.
Source: Bobsguide
Kamis, 17 Mei 2012
FATF Statement - 16 October 2008
IRAN
The FATF welcomes Iran’s recent engagement with the international community on anti-money laundering, notes the initial steps taken towards remedying the deficiencies in this area, and urges Iran to address the remaining weaknesses.
The FATF is particularly concerned that the lack of corresponding effort by Iran to address the risk of terrorist financing continues to pose a serious threat to the integrity of the international financial system. Urgent action to address this vulnerability is necessary.
The FATF calls on its members, and urges all jurisdictions, to strengthen preventive measures to protect their financial sectors from this risk.
The FATF is prepared to engage directly in assisting Iran in decisively addressing the weaknesses in its AML/CFT regime.
UZBEKISTAN
The FATF takes note of the action plan prepared by Uzbekistan to address deficiencies in its AML/CFT regime.
The FATF is increasingly concerned that the continuing failure by Uzbekistan to restore its AML/CFT regime poses a serious threat to the integrity of the international financial system. Urgent action to address this vulnerability and to meet international standards is necessary.
The FATF calls on its members, and urges all jurisdictions, to strengthen preventive measures to protect their financial sectors from this risk.
The FATF, along with the Eurasian Group, is prepared to engage directly in assisting Uzbekistan in developing a robust AML/CFT regime.
TURKMENISTAN
The FATF notes Turkmenistan’s efforts towards adopting AML legislation. However, financial institutions should be aware that the lack of an AML/CFT regime in Turkmenistan constitutes a money laundering/terrorist financing vulnerability in the international financial system. Turkmenistan is urged to continue its efforts to establish a comprehensive AML/CFT regime that meets international AML/CFT standards and to work closely with the Eurasian Group and the International Monetary Fund to achieve this.
PAKISTAN AND SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE
The FATF reaffirms its public statement of 28 February 2008 regarding the money laundering and financing of terrorism risks posed by Pakistan and Sao Tome and Principe.
AML/CFT IMPROVEMENTS IN THE NORTHERN PART OF CYPRUS
The FATF welcomes the significant progress made in the northern part of Cyprus and notes that the northern part of Cyprus has substantially addressed the AML/CFT deficiencies that the FATF had identified. FATF encourages the northern part of Cyprus to continue to improve its AML/CFT system. Implementation will be monitored through appropriate mechanisms.
Source: FATF Website
The FATF welcomes Iran’s recent engagement with the international community on anti-money laundering, notes the initial steps taken towards remedying the deficiencies in this area, and urges Iran to address the remaining weaknesses.
The FATF is particularly concerned that the lack of corresponding effort by Iran to address the risk of terrorist financing continues to pose a serious threat to the integrity of the international financial system. Urgent action to address this vulnerability is necessary.
The FATF calls on its members, and urges all jurisdictions, to strengthen preventive measures to protect their financial sectors from this risk.
The FATF is prepared to engage directly in assisting Iran in decisively addressing the weaknesses in its AML/CFT regime.
UZBEKISTAN
The FATF takes note of the action plan prepared by Uzbekistan to address deficiencies in its AML/CFT regime.
The FATF is increasingly concerned that the continuing failure by Uzbekistan to restore its AML/CFT regime poses a serious threat to the integrity of the international financial system. Urgent action to address this vulnerability and to meet international standards is necessary.
The FATF calls on its members, and urges all jurisdictions, to strengthen preventive measures to protect their financial sectors from this risk.
The FATF, along with the Eurasian Group, is prepared to engage directly in assisting Uzbekistan in developing a robust AML/CFT regime.
TURKMENISTAN
The FATF notes Turkmenistan’s efforts towards adopting AML legislation. However, financial institutions should be aware that the lack of an AML/CFT regime in Turkmenistan constitutes a money laundering/terrorist financing vulnerability in the international financial system. Turkmenistan is urged to continue its efforts to establish a comprehensive AML/CFT regime that meets international AML/CFT standards and to work closely with the Eurasian Group and the International Monetary Fund to achieve this.
PAKISTAN AND SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE
The FATF reaffirms its public statement of 28 February 2008 regarding the money laundering and financing of terrorism risks posed by Pakistan and Sao Tome and Principe.
AML/CFT IMPROVEMENTS IN THE NORTHERN PART OF CYPRUS
The FATF welcomes the significant progress made in the northern part of Cyprus and notes that the northern part of Cyprus has substantially addressed the AML/CFT deficiencies that the FATF had identified. FATF encourages the northern part of Cyprus to continue to improve its AML/CFT system. Implementation will be monitored through appropriate mechanisms.
Source: FATF Website
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