Greetings from Amsterdam, 

Before we share the latest in global crime and corruption, we wanted to highlight a campaign we launched to fight one of the biggest threats to investigative journalism: legal fees from frivolous lawsuits. 

The OCCRP network is fighting more than 40 strategic lawsuits against public participation, also known as SLAPPs, filed by ultra-wealthy crime figures, corrupt government officials, and politically-connected businessmen.

SLAPPs aren’t about winning in court. The aim is to drain journalists of time and money, so they think twice before taking on the powerful. 

We decided to fight back with a new approach. 

We’re starting an in-house legal fund to take on these transnational bullies. Our goal is to raise $100,000 from readers — like you — by the end of the year. 

Aside from helping us fight SLAPPs, a donation will give you access to a host of OCCRP membership benefits, including live webinars with investigative journalists. 

You can make a donation here. Any amount would be greatly appreciated. 

Now, for the latest in organized crime and corruption: 

PRESS FREEDOM IN LEBANON

🇱🇧 Exploiting Tragedy to Attack Journalists — Two prominent Lebanese journalists were interviewing Shukrallah Maalouf, a businessman accused of misusing government subsidies, when he collapsed and died live on television.

Senior Middle East and North Africa Editor Rana Sabbagh explains how Lebanon’s political establishment is exploiting this tragedy to silence independent journalists. >> Read the full story.

OCCRP HAS IMPACT

⚡ Dismantling Alleged “Fraud Factories” — European authorities raided 15 call centers accused of being part of an investment fraud network that was exposed by OCCRP and partners in a 2020 investigation.

Our #FraudFactory investigation uncovered how these scammers tricked elderly and vulnerable people around the world. Some were convinced to make fake crypto investments, while others were convinced that they owed tax debts and as a result made payments, or took out false loans. Some victims lost their entire life savings and became destitute.

⚡ Switzerland May Ditch Banking Secrecy Law — The Swiss parliament is considering abolishing a notorious law that effectively prohibits journalists from reporting on confidential financial documents. 

This law prevented Swiss media outlets from participating in our Suisse Secrets project. 

THE OCCRP NETWORK

🇬🇪 iFact: Our Georgian member center uncovers how the head of a southeastern village appears to have abused a land-titling system intended to help illiterate farmers, using it to take control of a chunk of former state land for himself. Here’s a summary of the investigation in English.

🇨🇿 Investigace.cz: Our Czech member center exposes an online scam, in which Czech-speaking Russians promise massive returns from crypto trading on the Korean stock market. Here’s a summary in English.

🇷🇴 Context: Our Romanian member center is suing the country’s Foreign Ministry after it denied Freedom of Information requests about whether the government used Pegasus spyware against citizens.

Editor in chief Attila Biro discussed the challenges around FOI requests in Romania on the Conversations with Data podcast.

🇷🇸 KRIK: Our Serbian colleagues at KRIK have borne the brunt of a wave of SLAPPs against the OCCRP network. Today, they’re facing 11 separate legal actions. A judge ruled against them in their most recent trial over a story in which they accurately reported what happened in a courtroom.

For another case, Reporters Without Borders says it will monitor the trial of KRIK’s Dragana Pećo, who faces a prison sentence for reporting on a powerful businessman close to the country’s president.

MORE CORRUPTION NEWS

Kazakhstan Confiscates Jewels —  Kazakh authorities seized roughly $230 million in jewelry once owned by the nephew of former President Nursultan Nazarbayev.

Record Fine for Glencore in Bribery Scandal — Glencore will pay a record £281 million (USD$314 million) fine after a UK court found that the commodities giant paid millions in bribes across Africa to access oil reserves.

Nepotism in Central Asian Politics — Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoev appointed his eldest daughter as the head of the communication and information policy department. Nearly all Central Asian leaders have placed their relatives in high government positions.

Big Proposal to Tackle Tax Dodging — A proposed law in Australia could require multinational corporations operating in the country to report taxes paid abroad. 

MORE ORGANIZED CRIME NEWS

Riviera Maya Gang Update —  Romanian prosecutors have asked for harsher sentences for six members of the ATM-skimming group that we dubbed the Riviera Maya Gang.

In 2020, OCCRP exposed how this criminal enterprise stole over $1 billion from rigged ATMs in tourist hotspots in Mexico and elsewhere. 

Takedown of Major Auto Theft Ring — U.S. authorities arrested several people accused of being part of a criminal network that made roughly $500 million from stolen catalytic converters.

These devices, which convert toxic gasses into safer emissions, can fetch as much as $1,000 on the black market. 

Swanky Art Dealer Sentenced — An Indian court sentenced a New York art dealer to ten years in prison for running a looting and smuggling operation, in which historic artifacts were sold at his Manhattan art gallery.

EVENTS

Arab Reporters for Investigative Journalism: The theme of this year’s annual conference will be “Defending Independent Media.” It will run from December 2 to 4, but online trainings will be held throughout November.

International Anti-Corruption Conference: Several members of the OCCRP network, including our co-founders, will speak in separate sessions at one of the world’s largest anti-corruption conferences, which will be held in Washington D.C. between December 6 to 10.