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OFAC Sanctions People, Entities for Corruption

The Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned three people and three entities in Africa and Asia for corruption, a Dec. 9 news release said. The designations were made as part of International Anti-Corruption Day and imposed sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act.

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The sanctions target Harry Varney Gboto-Nambi Sherman, a lawyer and Liberian senator, for offering bribes to judges during his trial for a 2010 bribery scheme. OFAC also targeted Raimbek Matraimov, former deputy of the Kyrgyz Customs Service, for his involvement in a “customs scheme” that laundered at least $700 million from the Kyrgyz Republic. The scheme involved bribes to customs officials for clearing expensive products as low-value goods and for faster clearance times, OFAC said.

The agency also sanctioned Wan Kuok Koi, a member of China’s People’s Political Consultative Conference and the leader of the 14K Triad, a Chinese criminal organization. OFAC sanctioned three of his companies: Cambodia-based World Hongmen History and Culture Association, Hong Kong-based Dongmei Group and Palau-based Palau China Hung-Mun Cultural Association.