Category: MEA

Regulatory Watch News

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  Marketers and Healthcare Providers in Texas, Virginia and South Carolina Agree to Pay Over $1.1M to Settle Laboratory Kickback Allegations

  US Department of Justice

  January 7, 2025

  Two laboratory marketers — Shahram Naghshbandi, of Fort Worth, Texas, and John Bello, of Chesterfield, Virginia; three physicians — Dr. Abbesalom Ghermay, of Plano, Texas; Dr. Daniel Theesfeld, of Longview, Texas; and Dr. James Cook, of Richmond, Virginia; and medical practice owner Troy Belton, of Columbia, South Carolina, and associated entities, have agreed to pay a total of $1,137,914 to resolve False Claims Act allegations they took part in laboratory kickback schemes in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute. The parties have agreed to cooperate with the Justice Department's investigations of, and litigation against, other participants in the alleged schemes.

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  Treasury Sanctions Corrupt Hungarian Official

  OFAC

  January 7, 2025

  WASHINGTON — Today, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is sanctioning Antal Rogan, a senior Hungarian government official, for his involvement in corruption in Hungary. He is being designated pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13818, which builds upon and implements the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act and targets perpetrators of serious human rights abuse and corruption around the world. “Corruption undermines a country’s governing institutions and limits its economic development, providing short-sighted gain to a select few while depriving future generations of longer-term benefit,” said Acting Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Bradley T. Smith. “The United States will not hesitate to hold accountable individuals, like Rogan, who use the power of their office to illicitly enrich themselves and their cronies at the expense of their country and their fellow citizens.”

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  Leadership of Regional Watchdog for Combating Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing (MENAFATF) Meets to Activate the Group’s Strategic Plans

  MENAFATF

  January 7, 2025

  The joint priorities of the Regional Group Chair will concentrate on strengthening the effectiveness of Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism efforts across the MENA region. The five priorities include: · Enhancing the role of the MENAFATF in preparing and implementing the third round of the mutual evaluation process, while providing support to member states undergoing the evaluation. · Strengthening the governance framework of the group. · Continuing to assist in the implementation and completion of the FATF recommendations action plan, aimed at improving the effectiveness of the group’s procedures and ensuring they are clearer and more targeted in achieving the recommendations. · Fostering cooperation, communication, and coordination with international and regional partners, as well as other regional bodies, in alignment with the group’s strategic and operational plans. · Intensifying efforts to implement international standards by identifying and understanding the risks, trends, and methods associated with money laundering, terrorist financing, and financing of the proliferation of weapons.