Category: Analysis & Opinion

Regulatory Watch News

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  Health Care Providers and Laboratory Marketers Agree to Pay Over $1.9 Million to Settle Kickback Allegations

  US Department of Justice

  March 6, 2025

  Gerald Congdon, M.D., of Pawleys Island, South Carolina; Gbenga Aluko, M.D., of Charlotte, North Carolina; and Anup Banerjee, M.D., of Gastonia, North Carolina, and their medical practices; as well as Curis Healthcare Inc., of Chicago, Illinois, Omar Hussain, of South Miami, Florida, and Saeed Medical Group Ltd. doing business as Alliance Immediate and Primary Care of Chicago, Illinois, agreed to pay a total of $1,913,808 to resolve alleged False Claims Act violations arising from their involvement in laboratory kickback schemes. The parties have agreed to cooperate with the Department of Justice’s investigations of other participants in the alleged schemes.

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  EFCC, France to Collaborate on Asset Tracking and Cybersecurity Training

  EFCC

  March 6, 2025

  The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC and the French government have expressed their commitment to strengthening cooperation in the areas of asset tracking, cybercrime investigation, and security training. This disclosure was made in Abuja on Tuesday,  March 4, 2025 when  Lieutenant General Regis Colombet, Director of Security and Defence Cooperation at the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, paid a  Courtesy visit to the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Mr . Ola Olukoyede at the Commission’s corporate headquarters.

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  France: Director of cultural association convicted of fraud involving Erasmus+ funds

  European Public Prosecutor's Office

  March 6, 2025

  (Luxembourg, 06/03/2025) - The Paris Judicial Court approved this week a sentence proposed by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Paris (France) as part of a plea bargain. The director of an association in the Alsace region destined to promote cultural activities was convicted of misappropriating funds for his own personal benefit. The investigation, led by the EPPO office in Paris, was opened based on suspicions of abuse of trust and money laundering and was entrusted to the National Anti-Fraud Office (ONAF) in Metz. The offenses were committed to the detriment of the association primarily (more than 80%) funded by the Erasmus+ programme, intended to host international volunteers. The director of the association was prosecuted for misappropriating €110,500 of the association’s funds, which he then used for the purchase of an apartment for himself.