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US seeks to extend legal powers over foreign countries

June 30, 1998

Major legislation has been introduced to US Congress that would extend the power of the US authorities to apply its money laundering laws and penalties in other countries.The proposed laws, which were tabled in April, has the support of both Democrats and Republicans, according to a report in Miami-based newsletter Money Laundering Alert.

Lawsuit alleged impropriety against Martin Hoffman, proves his links with Clarendon/Spencer-Arscott

June 30, 1998

A lawsuit filed three years ago in New York is revealing in that it includes details of another business deal involving Martin Hoffman that ended in tears amid allegations of fraud and dishonesty and shows a link between Hoffman, the Bermuda/US-based Clarendon insurance group and Bermuda insurance consultant Robin Spencer-Arscott.

Cayman governor promises to recognize fiscal offences

June 30, 1998

Cayman governor John Owen appears to have secretly promised the UK government that Cayman will change its law to allow foreign investigations of tax evasion.That is the startling revelation disclosed in the minutes of a meeting of the Public Accounts Committee of the UK government held in London on December 15, 1997.

Offshore Territories must enforce ‘all-crimes’ laws, not just pass them into law

June 28, 1998

Offshore financial centres that are also UK Overseas Territories have been told that it is not enough for them simply to introduce legislation outlawing ‘all-crimes' but that they must also enforce the new laws.That was one of the messages delivered to the House of Commons Select Committee on Public Accounts by Sir John Kerr, Permanent Under-Secretary of State for the UK government.

Scandal-plagued Cayman government faces new crisis over John McLean

May 31, 1998

The Cayman Islands government is facing its second scandal within seven months following an announcement that Minister of Land John McLean has been cleared of illegally obtaining Crown Land worth tens of millions of dollars - despite evidence to the contrary. The circumstances of the official whitewash of McLean are such that it calls into question the ability of the current government to administer its affairs in a competent or moral manner, including regulating its offshore financial services sector.

The colourful world of the promoters of The Harris Organization

May 31, 1998

One wrote a book describing Albania as a "fairy tale land" and promised he could show investors "how to double your capital at no risk", another sells seemingly dodgy insurance brokerage licences to the gullible, promising they are available within 72 hours to people with no qualifications or even a formal education who will be able to access the Lloyd's of London market; and another has written a book on prostitution showing where "balding, fat guys like your author" can find "Thai virgins".

First Cayman Bank liquidators prepare to sue directors

May 31, 1998

The liquidators of First Cayman Bank have opened negotiations with the bank's directors and officers with a view to holding them financially accountable for their responsibilities. A lawsuit for negligence is also being considered against the bank's auditors. This and the fact that professional fees and disbursements totalling $1.16 million were incurred in the first 23 weeks of provisional or official liquidation were the highlights of the second report of FCB's liquidators, Ian Wight and Michael Pilling, of Deloitte & Touche, dated May 14.

FCO letter presents gloomy picture for offshore finance centres

April 30, 1998

Further details obtained by Offshore Alert about the UK government's new proposals for regulations in its Overseas Territories confirm that what is being planned represents an offshore financial centre's worst nightmare. And there is growing evidence that independent offshore centres like the Bahamas and Antigua are also facing international pressure to conform to new standards.

Nevis government supports First Nevisian boss despite arrest warrant

April 30, 1998

The Nevis government has thrown its support behind the First Nevisian stockbroking and corporate services group after Offshore Alert revealed last month that there is a current arrest warrant in South Africa for its main principal, Keith Leslie King, in relation to fraud and forgery charges and that he was kicked out of the Isle of Man by regulators. We have not heard from King or the Nevis government since we ran our article last month.

The Harris Organization: a $30 million lawsuit, more fraudulent banks and an airplane

April 30, 1998

Offshore Alert's exposé on The Harris Organization last month has caused quite a stir, with journalists from several international media organizations showing an interest in following up the story.

Stirling Cooke accountant Brian Hynes has conviction for fraud

April 30, 1998

An accountant who participated in one of the world's best-known insurance frauds is currently working for Bermuda-based insurance group Stirling Cooke Brown Holdings as a financial accountant, we can disclose. Brian J. Hynes, former managing director of Carlos Miro-owned Anglo-American International Reinsurance Co., is employed by Stirling Cooke at its London office.

US government brings test case against offshore gaming operators

April 30, 1998

In what is being seen as a test case, the U. S. Government has charged 14 owners and managers of six sports betting companies headquartered in the Caribbean and Central America with conspiracy to transmit bets and wagers on sporting events via the Internet and telephones. The cases are the first federal prosecutions of sports betting over the Internet and they will be watched closely by offshore centers that have embraced gambling as a way of earning much-needed foreign currency.

Arrest warrant out for First Nevisian principal Keith King

March 31, 1998

Readers who are considering doing business with the First Nevisian stock-broking and corporate services group in Nevis might like to know there is a warrant out in South Africa for the arrest of its key principal, Keith Leslie King. They may also be interested to learn that he set up a firm in Nevis after being kicked out of the Isle of Man, where his company, City & International Securities, also recently lost a £45,000 ($72,000) lawsuit brought by a former client. A second lawsuit against City & International Securities and King personally is due to be tried soon in the Isle of Man.

‘The Harris Matrix’ for hiding money from the IRS and your wife

March 31, 1998

Offshore Alert has obtained confidential documents that are presented to clients of The Harris Organization advising them how to hide their assets from their creditors, be it the IRS or their wives if they are going through a divorce. The documents are so sensitive that the cover sheet states: "Under no circumstances may this document be utilized outside the offices of The Harris Organization. Misuse or disclosure of this document is subject to civil and criminal sanctions under Panamanian law."

The Harris Organization’s multi-million dollar Ponzi scheme

March 31, 1998

Offshore Alert can today disclose that Panama's most-hyped financial services group, known as The Harris Organization, is being run as a massive Ponzi scheme in which clients are being defrauded out of millions of dollars. The situation is so serious that The Harris Organization, which employs 150 people in Panama, is hopelessly insolvent, with net liabilities of at least $25 million, according to sources knowledgeable of the group's financial affairs.

Evidence of insider trading in Mid Ocean shares prior to take-over

March 31, 1998

Investors apparently acting on inside knowledge made a killing in the derivatives market on the last day of trading before it was announced that EXEL was buying Mid Ocean, we can reveal. The volume of contracts traded in Mid Ocean call options on the American Stock Exchange increased from an average daily volume of 30 contracts to 950 contracts on Friday, March 13 - two days before the deal was signed and three days before it was announced.

Mystery over Clarendon’s dubious producer

March 31, 1998

Anyone doing business with the Clarendon Insurance Group should take a close look at further evidence we have obtained which clearly shows that either a senior officer of the group is lying about its relationship with a dubious business producer or the producer is submitting fraudulent documents to the London insurance market. Either way, the Clarendon officer who may have lied to us, Thomas Corteville, vice president/financial operations of Clarendon National Insurance Company, seemed more concerned with attacking this newsletter than analyzing the facts.

Cayman government back pedals on John McLean land investigation

March 31, 1998

Following pressure from Offshore Alert, the Cayman government has done a U-turn and launched a fresh investigation into the suspicious circumstances in which Minister of Land John McLean came into possession of Crown Land worth tens of millions of dollars. In a letter dated March 17, Attorney General Richard Coles, acting on behalf of the Governor, John Owen, wrote to us stating that McLean "is concerned that the matter should be clarified as soon as possible".

Pressure mounts on John McLean to explain Cayman land deal

February 27, 1998

Pressure was mounting this month on Cayman Minister of Land John McLean to publicly explain how he came into possession of 200 acres of Crown Land with a potential quarrying value of tens of millions of dollars.Cayman Governor John Owen has been asked to investigate the matter and it was raised yesterday on the floor of the Legislative Assembly by Frank McField, who was ruled out of order by the Speaker. McLean, who has not attended recent Legislative Assembly hearings, was not in attendance.

Banker John Rea wins Privy Council ruling on illegal police searches in Cayman

February 27, 1998

The Privy Council in London has rejected an appeal by Detective Inspector Brian Gibbs, the Commissioner of the Royal Cayman Islands Police and the Attorney General against a damages award of US$770,000 made in favour of former bank manager John Rea for an illegal search of his home and his office in 1991.The ruling on January 29, 1998 brings to an end a long, embarrassing and costly saga for the Cayman authorities in which they were found to have maliciously obtained and executed two search warrants against Rea in October, 1991.

Battle to stop Bahamas government controlling liquidation of Gulf Union Bank

February 27, 1998

A fierce battle has been taking place behind closed doors in the Bahamas over the last month to prevent the government from controlling the winding-up of Gulf Union Bank (Bahamas) Limited.Depositors are concerned that a government-controlled liquidation will lead to a whitewash of the regulatory role in the bank's collapse of the Central Bank of the Bahamas.

FCO announces end of bank secrecy in overseas territories

February 27, 1998

The clearest indication yet that the UK government will force its Overseas Territories to co-operate with foreign regulators investigating both fiscal and regulatory offences was given this week to Offshore Alert.Offshore centres like Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, the Turks & Caicos Islands and the British Virgin Islands are being told by the UK government to introduce within two years legislation that will be virtually identical to the UK Criminal Justice (International Co-operation) Act 1990.

Breakdown of depositors’ funds at First Cayman Bank

February 27, 1998

The latest news from the liquidators of First Cayman Bank is that there were 3,606 depositors with total deposits of $27.3 million.Of the total deposits, US$24.9 million, or 91 per cent, was placed by only 343, or 9.5 per cent, of depositors, each of whom had a net deposit of over US$10,000.

EMLICO battle goes to Privy Council

February 27, 1998

The complicated legal battle over whether General Electric-subsidiary Electric Mutual Liability Insurance Company Limited should be liquidated in Massachusetts or Bermuda is scheduled to be heard by the Privy Council in London - the highest court in Bermuda's judicial system - next month.In an added twist to a drama whose circumstances change on a regular basis, Kemper Re brought, on February 20, its second lawsuit at Bermuda Supreme Court challenging the decision to allow EMLICO to redomicile to Bermuda.

Bruce Rappaport appointed Antigua’s Ambassador to Russia

February 27, 1998

Readers who followed last month's story about the US government's lawsuit accusing four banks and the Antiguan government of illegally divvying up $7 million in drug profits might be interested to know that Antigua recently appointed the banks' owner, Bruce Rappaport, as its Ambassador to Russia.The appointment of Rappaport to this official position on December 3, 1997, adds an interesting twist to the recent lawsuit brought by the US government against the Antigua-based Swiss American Bank group and Inter-Maritime Bank, of Geneva.

UK Foreign Minister announces plans to reform offshore regulations

February 4, 1998

UK Dependent Territories that are also offshore financial centres have until 1999 to comply with a "check-list" of four key areas of financial regulations to improve standards, UK Foreign Minister Robin Cook announced in London today.

US government sues Swiss American Bank-Inter-Maritime Bank group

January 30, 1998

The US government has filed a landmark civil lawsuit against banks in Antigua, Panama and Switzerland in an attempt to recover $7 million that it claims are the proceeds of criminal activity.The lawsuit is considered to be of significance to other offshore tax havens because it will test the ability of the US government to enforce home-based judgements in foreign territories against offshore companies who collaborate with money launderers.The US government is suing Swiss American Bank Ltd. and Swiss American National Bank Ltd., which are both registered in Antigua; Swiss American Holding Company S. A. of Panama and Inter-Maritime Bank of Geneva.

Marsh & McLennan steps into punitive damages coverage row in Bermuda

January 30, 1998

Marsh & McLennan, the world's largest insurance broker, has raised eyebrows in Bermuda by setting up an offshore facility to circumvent laws in sixteen US states that discourage companies from buying insurance against punitive damages awards.The broker's actions have drawn attention to the controversial but increasingly popular practice of American insurance companies using offshore structures they ultimately own to write politically sensitive punitive damages coverage they are not allowed to provide in the US.

Mark Hardy applies for bankruptcy discharge

January 30, 1998

Businessman Mark Hardy, who ran the Bermuda-based Focus/Forum group of insurance companies that went bust in 1990, is seeking to be discharged as a bankrupt in his native United Kingdom.

John McLean facing legal battle over Cayman land

January 30, 1998

Cayman's minister for land, John McLean, is facing possible legal action after he was awarded Crown land potentially worth millions of dollars that another local resident claims is legally his.Leroy Johnson has consulted attorneys about bringing a civil lawsuit against McLean and has even gone so far as to file a criminal complaint against the minister with the Cayman police, alleging theft.

Bahamas accounts used to pay share ramp bribes

January 30, 1998

Bank accounts in the Bahamas was used to bribe brokers who were paid to ramp up the share prices of small companies by promoting them to their unsuspecting clients.Details of the scheme emerged this month after two men pleaded guilty to various offences in the US, including conspiracy, wire fraud, commercial bribery and securities fraud.Leonard Ruge, a 40-year-old Canadian living in Florida, and Theodore Heitzman, 51, of California, each face up to five years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000.

Western Union stops money transfers to offshore gambling operations

December 30, 1997

Western Union has cut off money transfer services to 40 offshore bookmakers in an attempt to curb unlawful sports gambling in Florida.The action was taken at the request of the attorney general to combat the proliferation of sports betting operations headquartered in the Caribbean and soliciting wagers from Florida residents.

Cayman-UK tax initiative debate

December 30, 1997

Excerpts of a discussion at a meeting on December 3, 1997 of the Finance Committee of the Cayman Islands Legislative Assembly in which opposition members raised the delicate matter of whether the UK government had asked Cayman to begin recognizing fiscal offences in its mutual legal assistance laws. When Offshore Alert first confirmed the existence of a tax initiative in July, the Cayman government accused us of reporting lies. But, as you might be able to discern from the dialogue, there clearly were discussions on the subject, although it appears that the issue has temporarily gone away.

Russian banks banned from the Bahamas, says Central Bank Governor

December 30, 1997

Reports by a newspaper in The Bahamas that a Russian bank has been approved for a bank licence are inaccurate, said the governor of the Central Bank of the Bahamas, Julian Francis.The Punch newspaper had reported that the Alpha Bank had been given permission to set up in the Bahamas.But Francis said there had been no change in the Central Bank's position that Russian banks will not generally be allowed into the Bahamas because of difficulties in adequately regulating them.

First Cayman Bank – evidence of fraudulent preference

December 30, 1997

First Cayman Bank could be insolvent by as much as $34.5 million and appears to have been stripped of up to $8.3 million in the seven weeks before its collapse through withdrawals by depositors acting on inside information, according to the bank's provisional liquidator, Michael Pilling, of Deloitte & Touche.In a report submitted to the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands this month, Pilling indicated there was evidence that a massive fraudulent preference took place as FCB was on the verge of collapse.

Legal victory for Mentor liquidators against Ambassador Insurance

December 30, 1997

In a ruling that has implications for all schemes of arrangement in Bermuda, the liquidators of Mentor Insurance have won an important victory in the highest court of Bermuda's legal system - the Privy Council in London.The Privy Council ruled this month in Mentor's favour in a case against Ambassador Insurance Company by determining that the courts have no jurisdiction to extend the deadline for the submissions of appeals against claims previously rejected by the scheme administrator and also for the filing of the original claims.

John Felderhof sued by Bre-X bankruptcy trustees

December 30, 1997

Deloitte & Touche, as trustee of bankrupt Canadian mining firm Bre-X Minerals, has brought a lawsuit in the Cayman Islands against its former chief geologist, John Felderhof; his wife, Ingrid; and a Cayman company they control called Spartacus Corporation.The lawsuit was filed in the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands on December 19 and signals the beginning of what will probably be a long legal battle between Felderhof and those who claim he was largely responsible for the massive Bre-X stock fraud that netted him millions of dollars.

Financial troubles of Steven Blumhagen

December 30, 1997

Was Buffalo-based businessman Steven Blumhagen really the source of $30 million that was to have been the start-up capital of Resource Underwriters, as the company's Bermudian front-man, Robin Spencer-Arscott, would have us believe? Highly unlikely, we can report. Unless, that is, 46-year-old Blumhagen has recently won the New York state lottery and checked the ‘no publicity' box.

Stirling Cooke – What you won’t find in its prospectus

November 30, 1997

Investors contemplating taking part in the $50 million IPO of Bermuda-based insurance broker/risk manager Stirling Cooke Brown Holdings Limited, which is 24 per cent owned by Goldman Sachs, may be interested in a few details they will not find in the company's share prospectus. Perhaps the most noteworthy is the involvement of its subsidiary Raydon Underwriting Management in one of the world's largest insurance frauds. Raydon, which shares offices with Stirling Cooke at Victoria Hall, Hamilton, had the dubious distinction of managing reinsurer North American Fidelity & Guarantee.

First Cayman Bank looted of millions of dollars

November 30, 1997

Investigators have uncovered strong evidence that First Cayman Bank was looted of millions of dollars before it was closed down, partly through the granting of fraudulent loans to related parties and its participation in a scheme to defraud investors in Sweden and the US.The minimum amount of the alleged fraud perpetrated at First Cayman Bank is estimated to be US$5 million and the bank itself is insolvent by at least $6.1 million, according to documents filed at the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands as part of the bank's proposed liquidation.

The crooked empire of Charles Gordon-Seymour

October 31, 1997

Regulators might want to take a close look at Bermuda-based insurance management firm Sussex International Ltd. following the collapse by fraud over the last six months of an Antigua-registered insurer and another company based in Nevada.All three were run by Charles Gordon-Seymour, a discredited British businessman and former Bermuda resident whose ventures frequently collapse in suspicious circumstances with debts of millions of dollars.

Bahamas stock offerings cancelled by regulators

October 31, 1997

Regulators in the Bahamas acted this month to prevent two public offerings from going ahead due to regulatory breaches by the companies selling the shares.Perhaps the most embarrassing postponement involved Caribbean Health & Fitness Ltd., the major developers of Gold's Gym in the Caribbean.

Anything for a fee? A look at CD&P’s role in the NimsTec fiasco

October 31, 1997

If investors who pumped $2.6 million into Bermuda-based hi-tech firm NimsTec on the basis of misleading and inaccurate information are looking for someone to sue for negligence, they could do worse than to explore the role of law firm Conyers Dill & Pearman in helping NimsTec to raise capital. Before parting with their funds, investors in NimsTec who bought shares in two private placements were assured by NimsTec's officers and directors - who included CD&P partners - that no material facts were omitted from a share prospectus and that "all reasonable care" had been taken in its compilation. However, we can reveal that CD&P should have known about the appalling track record of NimsTec's 3-D camera and printing technology and its management that was not disclosed to investors because the law firm previously represented a similar company called Nimslo.

Credibility concerns hold up Resource Underwriters

October 31, 1997

Concerns about the credibility of some of the people involved are holding up the formation in Bermuda of Resource Underwriters, a new $300 million reinsurer whose front-man is Robin Spencer-Arscott.

‘Stolen’ Cayman bank records in hands of the IRS

October 31, 1997

The liquidator of Cayman-based Guardian Bank & Trust (in liquidation) has lost a petition he filed against the US government for the return of a computer tape containing details of accounts held at the bank.John Mathewson, the former chairman of the bank, handed over the tape to the FBI in June, 1996, as part of a plea bargain agreement after he was charged with money laundering offences in New Jersey.

Harris McLean’s Canadian assets frozen

October 31, 1997

The British Columbia Securities Commission has frozen an estimated US$9 million held in Vancouver trading accounts on behalf of Cayman-based broker/dealer Harris McLean Financial Group Ltd. and Ana Jimenez, who is the mother of Richard Harris, one of Harris McLean's principals.

Cayman court enforces foreign judgment

October 31, 1997

In a ruling that could have implications for other offshore ‘paper' companies registered in the Cayman Islands and operated elsewhere, the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands has allowed the enforcement of a foreign judgement against a Cayman entity called Socoa International.The Grand Court rejected one of the main defence arguments that to allow the enforcement of a foreign judgement would be against the national interests of the Cayman Islands and ruled that the Canadian judgement could be enforced without the plaintiff having to prove its case all over again in Cayman.

McKeeva Bush to be fired after First Cayman Bank collapses

October 31, 1997

McKeeva Bush, a director of First Cayman Bank who lied about his directorship after the bank collapsed amid allegations of fraud, is expected to be officially removed as a government minister when the Cayman Islands Legislative Assembly begins its next session on Friday, October 31.Bush has become an acute embarrassment to the Cayman government since First Cayman collapsed earlier this month, particularly with an international banking conference taking place on the island.

Details about the collapse of First Cayman Bank

October 16, 1997

Two loans - one of more than $5 million to the owner and another of about $10 million to Texas oil-man Tom Hajecate - form a major part of the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority inquiry into the collapse of First Cayman Bank, Offshore Alert can reveal. These and further details about the bank's financial problems have emerged over the last few days - a period in which this newsletter has been threatened with legal action by government minister McKeeva Bush, who is a director of First Cayman, and warned by his lawyer that we faced criminal prosecution if we continued to pursue the story.

Cayman regulators close down First Cayman Bank and Gulf Union Bank

October 14, 1997

Cayman regulators yesterday closed down Gulf Union Bank and its subsidiary, First Cayman Bank, after evidence of financial irregularities was found during due diligence carried out by a prospective buyer of First Cayman.