Gabon | The FCPA Blog

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Harry Cassin
Publisher and Editor

Andy Spalding
Senior Editor

Jessica Tillipman
Senior Editor

Bill Steinman
Senior Editor

Richard L. Cassin
Editor at Large

Elizabeth K. Spahn
Editor Emeritus

Cody Worthington
Contributing Editor

Julie DiMauro
Contributing Editor

Thomas Fox
Contributing Editor

Marc Alain Bohn
Contributing Editor

Bill Waite
Contributing Editor

Russell A. Stamets
Contributing Editor

Richard Bistrong
Contributing Editor

Eric Carlson
Contributing Editor

Posts Tagged: Gabon

Someone had to be the first FCPA defendant

Richard L. Cassin December 19, 2017

A headline in the Washington Post on August 3, 1979 said: “Justice Department Wins First Victory Under Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.”

The story started this way:

The Justice Department unit set up to prosecute American corporations that make payoffs to foreign officials won its first court victory here yesterday: a guilty plea by the New York firm that distributes the postage stamps of Cook Islands, a tiny country 1,800 miles off the coast of New Zealand.… Continue Reading

Och-Ziff middleman pleads guilty to Africa bribes

Richard L. Cassin December 12, 2016

The son of a former Prime Minister of Gabon pleaded guilty in federal court Friday to conspiring to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act by bribing government officials in Africa.

Samuel Mebiame, 43, a Gabonese national, was a consultant to a mining company owned by an Och-Ziff joint venture.… Continue Reading

Here’s some open source due diligence on Och Ziff’s Africa agent

Scott Shaffer September 1, 2016

After reviewing several articles including the recent FCPA Blog post, “Alleged Och Ziff Africa ‘fixer’ arrested for FCPA offenses,” my focus immediately shifted to due diligence procedures. Specifically, I thought about the risk profile of Samuel Mebiame. … Continue Reading

Alleged Och Ziff Africa ‘fixer’ arrested for FCPA offenses

Richard L. Cassin August 17, 2016

Daniel OchA Gabon national was arrested Tuesday and charged with conspiracy to bribe officials in at least three African countries to help win mining rights for a joint venture involving U.S.… Continue Reading

Kenya, China team up against illegal ivory trade

Richard L. Cassin February 14, 2014

A Chinese national suspected of leading an ivory-smuggling ring was arrested in Kenya last month and extradited to China as part of an international sweep against the illegal trade.

The suspect, surnamed Xue, is the first Chinese national suspected of involvement in the illegal wildlife trade to be arrested overseas, the Xinhua news agency said.… Continue Reading

Hunt is on for Africa’s looted wealth

The FCPA Blog December 12, 2012

The world keeps shrinking for Africa’s kleptocrats.

Senegal’s new government has launched an unusual joint investigation with France into several key figures from the former government.

It reportedly filed a complaint with a Paris court to investigate the origins of assets held in France by an undisclosed list of high-profile figures associated with the former Senegalese government.… Continue Reading

Where is Richard Bistrong today?

Richard L. Cassin October 31, 2012

The government’s cooperating witness in the failed Africa sting prosecution now lives at the minimum security facility adjacent to the United States Penitentiary (USP) in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania (pictured left).

Richard Bistrong, 50, prisoner number 30079-016, has a release date of January 15, 2014.… Continue Reading

From Ken’s Lips To The Senate’s Ears

Richard L. Cassin February 4, 2010

Ken Silverstein’s report on this week’s Senate hearings about foreign rulers moving huge chunks of money to the U.S. is here.

For Silverstein, Harper’s Washington editor and writer of the online Washington Babylon, the Senate investigation is a personal triumph.… Continue Reading

Paris Punts On Probe

Richard L. Cassin November 30, 2009

The lawsuit examining how three African rulers and their families managed to acquire dozens of luxury homes, cars and other assets in France has been stopped. A Paris magistrate had ordered the investigation in May at the request of Transparency International.… Continue Reading

The Bongo System

Richard L. Cassin September 17, 2009

The New York Times’ Adam Nossiter has written a terrific article about kleptocracy and corruption in Gabon (here). Here’s how his account begins:

LIBREVILLE, Gabon — In the airport duty-free store, the wine is upward of $400.

The Death Of A Long-Time Leader

Richard L. Cassin June 15, 2009

Gabon’s president, Omar Bongo, 73, died last week of heart failure while in Spain on a holiday. In 1967, at just 31, he became the country’s second post-colonial ruler and stayed on to become the longest-serving head of state on the African continent.… Continue Reading

C’est Magnifique!

Richard L. Cassin May 8, 2009

Francophile kleptocrats everywhere must be shaking in their Yves Saint Laurent double monk-strap black boots today, thanks to a Paris magistrate’s ruling. He accepted a case brought by Transparency International that requires French authorities to investigate how three African rulers, their family members and friends managed to acquire numerous luxury homes, cars and other assets in France.… Continue Reading