Russia

Poland: Griffin Trading Company

April 8, 2002

Application for the appointment of a Commissioner to collect evidence for a criminal investigation in Poland into whether a check drawn on a Bank One account held by Charles Schwab and made payable to Griffin Trading Company was fraudulently negotiated and, if so, by whom.

Insider Talking: December 31, 2001

December 31, 2001

Anglo American Bank has had its banking license reinstated by the Grenada International Financial Services Authority; Nevis-based offshore provider Robin Cotterell recently established an insurance company called Old Pacific Insurance Ltd.; Former Lines Overseas Management (Cayman) salesman Scott Oliver has popped up in Costa Rica as President of 'Somerset, Tighe and Campbell', which describes itself as a firm of "professional investment advisors" at its web-site at www.offshorecostarica.com; Inter Caribbean Business Management/Global Dominion Group in Nevis, which has been accused by at least one client of not redeeming her investment, has left Nevis and also closed down its web-sites; and Vladislav Popovic, the director of Richard & Partners, which is accounting firm Pannell Kerr Forster's representative in Montenegro, has confirmed that his firm has never carried out any auditing work for Montenegro-licensed Goldstar Commercial Bank AD, as claimed by the bank's principal, Gerardo Rodriguez Reynante, who is based in Uruguay.

Imperial Consolidated loses lawsuit, accused by judge of backdating documents

December 31, 2001

Imperial Consolidated, whose operations include an offshore bank and offshore mutual funds, has lost a defamation lawsuit that it brought in New Zealand against a former broker. In a judgment in the High Court of New Zealand on December 18, 2001, Judge William Young ruled that defendant David Frederick Stewart was being truthful when he criticized the group on a web-site.

Russia: Sergei Nickolayevitch Sidorenko

November 26, 2001

Application for the appointment of a Commissioner to collect evidence for a criminal investigation in Russia into Sergei Nickolayevitch Sidorenko for suspected fraud.

Lithuania: Andrej Krivobok et al

September 24, 2001

Application for the appointment of a Commissioner to collect evidence for a criminal investigation in Lithuania into Andrej Krivobok, Jurij Smirnov, Andrius Milasius, Eduardos Gocentas, Steponas Koncius, Ricardas Valatka, Vladimir Mikulin, Jurij Mingaliov, Vilius Sadauskas, Zigmas Zukas, Alvydas Lauciunas, Raimondas Mitkevicius and Rutenis Jacikevicius for alleged smuggling.

Uzbekistan: Vitaly Alexandrovich Belov

August 16, 2001

Application for the appointment of a Commissioner to collect evidence - pursuant to a request for judicial assistance from Uzbekistan - for a criminal investigation into Vitaly Alexandrovich Belov for suspected fraud.

Ken Dart lawsuit halted pending Isle of Man settlement

June 30, 2001

A civil racketeering lawsuit in which a Russian industrial firm was seeking $150 million against Cayman resident Ken Dart, Dart Management Inc. and two of its employees has been stayed pending a settlement.

Ukraine: Ukrainian Food Enterprise Ltd.

April 20, 2001

Application for the appointment of a Commissioner to collect evidence for a criminal investigation in Ukraine into Ukrainian Food Enterprise Ltd. for alleged tax fraud.

Break out the vodka: MRM buys Valmet Group

December 31, 2000

Mutual Risk Management is due to complete the purchase of Bermuda-registered financial services firm Valmet Group by January 2, 2001. In acquiring Valmet, MRM is taking over an entity that has received much international publicity over the last few years due to its ties with Russia.

Offshore Financial Centers capitulate to international pressure

July 31, 2000

The governments of offshore financial centers have moved with unprecedented haste in changing their regulatory and supervisory systems in order to be removed from international 'hit lists'.Rather than attempt to group together and negotiate with foreign agencies from a position of strength, many governments have capitulated to international pressure and rushed through emergency legislation.

Russia: Vladimir Olegovich Krasheninnikov

July 11, 2000

Application for the appointment of a Commissioner to collect evidence for a criminal investigation in Russia into Vladimir Olegovich Krasheninnikov, Deputy Headof the Maritime Administration of the Port of St. Petersburg, for suspected embezzlement.

Russia: Industrial State Enterprises of St. Petersburg

June 2, 2000

Application for the appointment of a Commissioner to collect evidence for a criminal investigation in Russia into alleged corruption and fraud involving Industrial State Enterprises of St. Petersburg.

Insider Talking: March 31, 2000

March 31, 2000

AS&K denies it is merging with Truman Bodden & Co. (Cayman), Neville Grant, resigns as head of the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority, Montserrat revokes offshore banking license of Equity Bank and Trust Company Limited, Grenada's Ambassador to the United States, Denis G. Antoine, makes a fool of himself while defending Grenada's offshore financial sector, illegally-operated offshore 'bank' continues in business despite regulatory action, sham 'Monaco Bank of Trade' tries to lure Internet users by offering absurdly-high rates of return, Russian businessman Vladimir Momitko dismantles web-site in which he sought to breach the copyright of financial publishers.

Imperial Consolidated Group’s links to High Yield Investment Programs

March 31, 2000

Offshore Alert has obtained documents which implicate the Imperial Consolidated Group in the sale of investment programs purporting to offer guaranteed returns of as much as 30 per cent per month. In one program, Imperial Consolidated offers to pay a return of 9.25 per cent per month while simultaneously paying a 40 per cent commission to brokers who introduce investors.

Russia: Vladimir Aleksandrovich Trinev et al

February 9, 2000

Application for the appointment of a Commissioner to collect evidence for a criminal investigation in Russia into alleged fraud and abuse of power by three former directors of Rostselmash JSC, namely Vladimir Aleksandrovich Trinev, Sergey Pavlovich Beloglasov and Andrey Zakharovich Khata.

Insider Talking: September 30, 1999

September 30, 1999

Dominica-registered Overseas Development Bank & Trust has yet to satisfy three judgments totalling US$1.24 million that were entered against it in favor of creditors on January 29, 1999, sham New Utopia jurisdiction claims it is launching "the New Utopia Investment Fund of the Cayman Islands", Ralph Sherman's involvement in the First International Bank of Grenada, comparisons between Van Brink's First International Bank of Grenada and Michael Randy's Canadian Trade Bank, alleged investment fraudster Brent Wagman surfaces in Panama, '60 Minutes' television show goes soft on Alexandre Konanykhine.

Insider Talking: February 26, 1999

February 26, 1999

If you ever needed proof as to how far the Russian mafia has infiltrated Antigua's government, you need look no further than Clare K. Roberts, who was Antigua's Attorney General until last year, and Steadroy Benjamin, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives; The Caribbean Bank of Commerce featured in an alert sent out by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency to US banks and regulators on November 13, 1998 that advised that the bank was operating illegally from an address in the United States, namely 17 Chestnut Street, Ridgewood, New Jersey; Bermuda Supreme Court last month appointed the Official Receiver to take over the financial affairs of Bermuda attorney Julian Hall, who used to be an MP for the Progressive Labour Party when it was in Opposition; A French chateau hotel venture run by outspoken former Bermuda-based insurance boss Jonathan Crawley seems to be heading the way of several insurance companies he helped run; The name of Antigua-registered American International Bank, which is now in receivership after being mismanaged by its owner William Cooper and its CEO John E. Greaves, has cropped up in several official investigations into criminal activity involving money laundering; and The Cayman Islands government wasted yet more of the public's money by first obtaining a court injunction against the Cayman Free Press preventing its Caymanian Compass newspaper from reporting the contents of the government's agreement with telecommunications carrier Cable & Wireless and then inexplicably dropping the matter without any explanation just before a court hearing to hear the pros and cons of the case.

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.