Crackdown on "Dirty Money"
UK Freezes Assets of Isabel dos Santos and Dmytro Firtash
The British government has taken a significant step in its efforts to combat corruption and money laundering by freezing the assets of Angolan billionaire Isabel dos Santos and Ukrainian oligarch Dmytro Firtash. This move is part of a new crackdown on "dirty money" and marks the first step in tightening Britain’s anti-corruption sanctions regime.
Background
Isabel dos Santos, the daughter of former Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santos, is Africa’s first female billionaire. She has faced corruption accusations in Angola and elsewhere for years, and has denied all allegations, claiming she is the target of a long-running political vendetta. Dmytro Firtash, on the other hand, is wanted by Ukrainian and US authorities on suspicion of embezzling nearly US$500 million involving Ukraine’s gas transit system. He claims the charges are without legal foundation.
Sanctions
The British government has sanctioned dos Santos and Firtash, as well as a Latvian oligarch, Aivars Lembergs, who was put on a US sanctions list in 2019 for alleged corruption. The sanctions include freezing the assets of the individuals and their associates, as well as prohibiting them from traveling to the UK.
Abuse of Position
The British government alleges that dos Santos abused her position at Angolan state oil firm Sonangol and telecoms company Unitel to embezzle at least £350 million. Firtash, meanwhile, is accused of extracting "hundreds of millions of pounds from Ukraine through corruption", and hiding tens of millions of pounds of ill-gotten gains in the UK property market alone.
Lembergs’ Alleged Misdeeds
Lembergs, the Latvian oligarch, is accused of abusing his political position to commit bribery and launder money. His daughter, Liga Lemberga, has also been sanctioned.
Conclusion
The UK’s move to freeze the assets of dos Santos, Firtash, and Lembergs is a significant step in its efforts to combat corruption and money laundering. The sanctions send a strong message that the UK will not tolerate the abuse of power and the misuse of public funds for personal gain.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the purpose of the sanctions?
A: The sanctions are aimed at combating corruption and money laundering, and to prevent individuals from using the UK as a haven for their ill-gotten gains.
Q: Who is Isabel dos Santos?
A: Isabel dos Santos is an Angolan billionaire and the daughter of former Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santos. She has faced corruption accusations in Angola and elsewhere for years.
Q: Who is Dmytro Firtash?
A: Dmytro Firtash is a Ukrainian oligarch who is wanted by Ukrainian and US authorities on suspicion of embezzling nearly US$500 million involving Ukraine’s gas transit system.
Q: What is the significance of the sanctions?
A: The sanctions mark the first step in tightening Britain’s anti-corruption sanctions regime, and demonstrate the UK’s commitment to combating corruption and money laundering.