Treasury Sanctions Members of a Significant Corruption Network in South Africa - US Sanctions Gupta Family

[ToxicBunny]

I wouldn't be so sure... the current US administration seems to have a "shoot first, ask questions later" attitude.

Trump is an idiot yes... But I don't think we matter enough to get his attention, these things are done lower down in the administration when it comes to places like us.

 

[BTTB]

If this was because of Afriforum’s input I think that is marvellous, at least the US is taking note of honest to the point Civil Rights Groups in South Africa. However I hope the Government also requested this to happen otherwise they would be seen as having done nothing, which is what we all believe anyway as the facts speak for themselves.

Saddens me to think that we live in a world where in India they probably got a pat on the back for stealing our money and further saddens us to think that the ANC allowed this all to happen. Amazing how you never hear the ANC bigwigs talk about the Guptas, the ANC are like Ostriches with their heads in the sand hoping that we all forget what they have done. As Zille said, Black Privilege is voting in the same corrupt officials who abetted and stole a Trillion Rand or more from South Africa over the past decade. As Trevor Manuel stated, Jacob Zuma was the worst thing that ever happened to South Africa. Why is he not in jail yet?

The US could direct a couple of Cruise Missiles in the direction of those slimy conniving Gupta/Kumar scumbags as far as I am concerned, not to mention a few …. oops sorry I meant long list of cadres this side too.

 

[TysonRoux]

Convey my thanks to roets when you meet next time around then. Well done I think. He is one of the unsung heroes of the nation.

Another one is Paul O'Sullivan

Hawks officer who dragged investigator Paul O’Sullivan off plane to be charged

 

[Techne]

When you start to compete with the giants in corruption and they start to notice you then you know you have made it big time. The Guptas better be careful now, you better be prepared when messing with the ultimate in corrupt... The Fed and US treasury.

 

[gottagoon]

May this start of dealing with scheming stealing scumbags lead to justice for all of us that work HARD for our money.

We are GATVOL of useless bastard's that only know one way to achieve the houses and cars they have. And that is by being dishonest.

Fulckem all. The wheel turns.

 

[Creag]

I might just polish off a bottle of some very expensive out of Scotland one day when their butts are rotting in jail.

 

[Gordon_R]

I'm a bit late to this thread. Also reported on BBC, though not on their main page: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-50003150

South Africa’s Gupta brothers sanctioned by US over 'corruption'

Salim Essa must be feeling the heat, assuming he is still in SA? Duduzane Zuma as well...

A reminder of how Salim Essa fits into the picture: https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/art...-trillian-blames-its-cash-woes-on-salim-essa/

Nephews in the USA also under investigation. Live updates: https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/live-us-blacklists-gupta-family-20191010

Kudos to #GuptaLeaks for blowing the details open!

 

[Moto Guzzi]

https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/OFAC-Enforcement/Pages/20191010.aspx

Treasury Sanctions Members of a Significant Corruption Network in South Africa

Global Magnitsky designations target members of family business engaged in corruption, including bribery and misappropriation of state assets Washington – Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign AssetsControl (OFAC) sanctioned members of a significant corruption network in...

home.treasury.gov

The best news I heard in 25 years, as understanding grows, the speed of positive financial reform will grow, it needs to happen and its going to go deeper.

 

[Jopie Fourie]

Interesting comment in IOL

"... Moreover, we commend the extraordinary work by South Africa’s civil society activists, investigative journalists, and whistleblowers, who have exposed the breadth and depth of the Gupta family’s corruption," the department said in a statement.

US Treasury imposes sanctions on Guptas, Salim Essa

The United States Department of Treasury on Thursday announced it had imposed sanctions on the Gupta brothers and their associate Salim Essa.

www.iol.co.za

hmmmm..... wonder who the Department is referring to here.....

 

[Mystic Twilight]

If this was because of Afriforum’s input I think that is marvellous, at least the US is taking note of honest to the point Civil Rights Groups in South Africa. However I hope the Government also requested this to happen otherwise they would be seen as having done nothing, which is what we all believe anyway as the facts speak for themselves.

Saddens me to think that we live in a world where in India they probably got a pat on the back for stealing our money and further saddens us to think that the ANC allowed this all to happen. Amazing how you never hear the ANC bigwigs talk about the Guptas, the ANC are like Ostriches with their heads in the sand hoping that we all forget what they have done. As Zille said, Black Privilege is voting in the same corrupt officials who abetted and stole a Trillion Rand or more from South Africa over the past decade. As Trevor Manuel stated, Jacob Zuma was the worst thing that ever happened to South Africa. Why is he not in jail yet?

The US could direct a couple of Cruise Missiles in the direction of those slimy conniving Gupta/Kumar scumbags as far as I am concerned, not to mention a few …. oops sorry I meant long list of cadres this side too.

Afriforum might have brought additional attention to the matter, but for the US the only reason they started the investigation and sanctions is due to one or more of the zupta transactions (see one of those massive infographics explaining the transactions) were done in dollars or via an entity based in the US, the US have an anti money laundering policy to investigate any potential laundering that involves their currency. Otherwise this sanction would still probably happen but not as soon as now, or never would have been investigated if no money ever involved dollars.

 

[TysonRoux]

SA has done virtually farkall.

US Government slaps financial sanctions on Gupta network, SA welcomes US help in ‘advancing justice’

The US government has slapped financial sanctions on the Gupta network, freezing any assets they may have in America and prohibiting US persons doing business with them. SA officials rejected any suggestion that the US sanctions were a quid pro quo for Pretoria agreeing to extradite former Mozambican finance minister Manual Chang to the US rather than Mozambique

The US Treasury Department announced that it had designated the brothers Ajay, Atul and Rajesh Gupta and their close business associate Salim Essa to be sanctioned under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act for corruption, including bribery and misappropriation of state assets.

The US move appeared to have been coordinated with the SA government as Minister of Justice Ronald Lamola issued a statement soon after, welcoming the action taken by the US “to ensure that the South African interests of justice unfold without any hindrance.”

The US said Treasury’s Office of Foreign AssetsControl (OFAC) was sanctioning them as “members of a significant corruption network in South Africa that leveraged overpayments on government contracts, bribery, and other corrupt acts to fund political contributions and influence government actions.”

Washington’s action means that all property and interests in property of the three Gupta brothers and Essa that are “owned, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more by them, individually, or with other designated persons, that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons, are blocked and must be reported to OFAC.”

The sanctions also prohibit U.S. persons from engaging in transactions with the four men, or entities owned or controlled by them.

These sanctions cast a broad net because of the extensive reach of the US financial system and usually have the effect of strongly discouraging business associates anywhere in the world from doing business with designated individuals just in case such transactions may have some US link, or are conducted in US dollars

 

[Thor]

The USA is going after the Guptas!

NPA can learn a lesson or two.

 

[R13...]

I'm a bit late to this thread. Also reported on BBC, though not on their main page: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-50003150


Salim Essa must be feeling the heat, assuming he is still in SA? Duduzane Zuma as well...

A reminder of how Salim Essa fits into the picture: https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/art...-trillian-blames-its-cash-woes-on-salim-essa/

Nephews in the USA also under investigation. Live updates: https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/live-us-blacklists-gupta-family-20191010

Kudos to #GuptaLeaks for blowing the details open!

Essa is also hiding in Dubai

 

[thestaggy]

Actually not in the slightest on this point either. All this does is prevent US entities from dealing with the Guptas and Essa... it does not, and cannot dictate to other countries.

As far as I understand it, if they deal in US dollars anywhere the US can come after them. This includes laundering.

 

[ToxicBunny]

As far as I understand it, if they deal in US dollars anywhere the US can come after them. This includes laundering.

Of course, but the US Dollar is not the only currency, its just the most widely used for international transactions... it doesn't mean they can't do business, it just makes it complicated and more expensive.

 

[surface]

As far as I understand it, if they deal in US dollars anywhere the US can come after them. This includes laundering.

Interestingly enough, USA doesn't seem to have mutual extradition treaty & legal assistance with UAE but South africa apparently signed it in 2018. Dubai seems safe haven for guptas for now unless NPA & UAE authorities pursue it with vigour.

 

[saturnz]

and nothing on the Koch brothers, who make the Guptas look like kids playing marbles

 

[surface]

Of course, but the US Dollar is not the only currency, its just the most widely used for international transactions... it doesn't mean they can't do business, it just makes it complicated and more expensive.

Does it mean that guptas won't be able to transact in US dollar outside of dubai (or even inside dubai)? Beyond a bit of understanding of FATCA, I have no clue how this will be enforced in practice. Guptas are likely to bribe some shady bank(s) to stay under radar.

 

[ToxicBunny]

Does it mean that guptas won't be able to transact in US dollar outside of dubai (or even inside dubai)? Beyond a bit of understanding of FATCA, I have no clue how this will be enforced in practice. Guptas are likely to bribe some shady bank(s) to stay under radar.

Its relatively simple, They can't interact with any US Business, especially the financial institutions, even indirectly. So yes they can still transact in dollars so long as the transaction never touches the US Financial system in any way, but it would be risky for them to do so in my opinion.

 

[surface]

Its relatively simple, They can't interact with any US Business, especially the financial institutions, even indirectly. So yes they can still transact in dollars so long as the transaction never touches the US Financial system in any way, but it would be risky for them to do so in my opinion.

Well, if majority of US business/fin. institutions are honest, then only this is likely to have impact.