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Greetings from Sarajevo,
From Guatemala to South Africa, governments around the world are taking action based on our investigative reporting. But first, we wanted to share a new article in the Guardian ([link removed]) highlighting one of the biggest threats to the investigative journalism — what our publisher calls “the worst law on earth.”
We’re referring to British libel law, the preferred weapon of global elites looking to silence journalists who dig into their affairs. Unlike in many other Western countries, in the U.K. the defendant has the burden of proving that their published material was true.
Because the U.K. is a global hub for dirty money and the ultra-rich often maintain residences in London, journalists can be taken to court in the U.K. over investigations that have nothing to do with Britain. And going to court is expensive, even when the claim in dispute is obviously accurate.
As a result, journalists worldwide, including those in the OCCRP network, often receive emails from British reputation lawyers threatening libel claims. Litigation in a U.K. court can be expensive and drag on for years, a daunting prospect for journalists. Even the prospect of being sued for libel often discourages reporters from publishing certain stories, many told the Guardian. That’s why such lawsuits are known as “strategic lawsuits against public participation, or SLAPPs.
Give the Guardian article a read if you’re interested in learning more about SLAPPs and how British law enables them.
For possible solutions, check out what the EU is doing. In April, it proposed a directive ([link removed]) that could punish those who file frivolous libel claims.
Now, for the latest in global crime and corruption:
** NEW INVESTIGATION
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🇧🇪 Belgium’s “Black Prince” Living Large in Colombia 🇨🇴 Henri De Croÿ is an aristocrat nicknamed “The Black Prince” in Belgian media after being accused of masterminding a scheme that hid hundreds of millions from tax authorities.
Reporters found him in Cartagena, where he and his wife own several luxurious properties they’ve converted into a boutique hotel chain. Their ownership of the properties was concealed behind multiple Panamanian companies. Read the full story. ([link removed])
🌐 The Big Picture: While De Croÿ’s conviction was overturned in 2015, prosecutors in three countries launched new investigations into whether he had laundered money and committed tax fraud. Our new story shows that he went to significant lengths to hide his wealth on the Colombian coast — aided by secrecy jurisdictions like the British Virgin Islands and Panama.
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🇱🇧 U.S. Lawsuit Points to Lebanese Corruption 🇺🇸 A Florida court has asked Lebanon’s judiciary to serve legal papers against two top Lebanese politicians accused of orchestrating the kidnap and torture of a Lebanese-American couple.
The case, which began in 2020, has the potential to further expose abuses of power in Lebanon.Read the full story. ([link removed])
Join the fight against corruption.
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** OCCRP HAS IMPACT
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🇪🇺 Appealing Sanctions 🇷🇺 The EU sanctioned the sister of Russian-Uzbek oligarch Alisher Usmanov after OCCRP and the Guardian revealed her massive fortune in secret Swiss bank accounts.
Now, she and another Usmanov sister have appealed this decision in hopes of regaining access to their accounts and assets.A decision is expected in the next two weeks. ([link removed])
🇪🇺 EU Targets Prominent Serb in Belarus 🇧🇾 The European Union has sanctioned Serbian businessman Bogoljub Karić ([link removed]) , whose financial interests in Belarus were exposed by OCCRP last year.
We revealed that Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko handed about $1 billion worth of prime real estate ([link removed]) to companies linked to the Karić family.
🇬🇹 Charges for Alleged Polluters: Guatemala has charged its current and former ministers of mining ([link removed]) with allowing the Fénix nickel mine, co-owned by the Swiss giant Solway, to pollute the country’s Lake Izabel.
The scale of pollution, as well as Solway’s knowledge of the leak, was exposed by OCCRP and partners in this investigation. ([link removed])
🇿🇦 State Capture Arrests: Rajesh Gupta and Atul Gupta, members of the Indian-born family at the heart of South Africa’s state capture scandal, were arrested in Dubai.
* What is the state capture scandal? It refers to the mass looting of public funds by the Gupta family and associates while their ally President Jacob Zuma was in office. In 2019, OCCRP went down the Gupta rabbit hole ([link removed]) and pieced together where some of the notorious family’s millions went.
🇨🇦 Calling Out Dodgy Money in Vancouver: In the wake of our recent report ([link removed]) , British Columbia’s attorney general voiced his frustration over the Canadian government’s lack of action ([link removed]) to prevent money laundering in the country.
** OCCRP IS EXPANDING
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🇷🇴 Context in Romania 🇷🇴 We have a new member center in Romania, one of Europe’s most corrupt countries.
Context Investigative Reporting Project ([link removed]) launched today with its project #LostBillions ([link removed]) , which digs into the approximate 16 billion euros in tax revenue that Romania loses every year.
While its focus is on Romania, Context also reports on waste, fraud, abuse in the European Union’s budget. You can find some of its EU-focused work on their English-language page.
Follow them on Facebook ([link removed]) , Twitter ([link removed]) , and Instagram here ([link removed]) .
P.S. Thank you for reading the OCCRP newsletter. Feel free to reply with any feedback.
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