Following the transfer by Abdul Waked of Gese's majority shareholding to Fundación Publicando Historia, the Editorial Group's access restrictions to the United States financial system have been lifted.
From a statement by the US ambassador in Panama:
I and my Embassy colleagues in Panama congratulate all parties involved in the successful effort to reestablish unfettered access to markets and the financial system of the United States on behalf of the newspapers of the La Estrella de Panama and El Siglo Editorial Group (GESE).
Panama and Nicaragua are among the ten countries in Latin America with the highest risk of money laundering, according to the Basel Institute of Governance.
The anti-money laundering index (AML) prepared by the Basel Institute of Governance places Panama in fourth place in the list of countries with the highest risk of money laundering and financing of terrorist activities in Latin America and the Caribbean.
In May, approval could be given to the regulation of the law that obliges real estate agents, pawn shops and lawyers, among others, to report suspicious operations of more than $10,000.
The socialization process of the regulation of the Law for the regulation of designated non-financial professional activities (APNFD) has already ended, and Congress estimates that next month it could be approved.
The housing market, casinos, concert halls, and the livestock sector are all used to launder money in Central American countries.
Excerpted from the report "International Narcotics Control Strategy Report, Volume II, Money Laundering and Financial Crimes" by the US State Department:
Costa Rica Transnational criminal organizations continue to favor Costa Rica as a base to commit financial crimes due to its location and limited enforcement capability. Costa Rica’s government has attempted to strengthen the legal framework for supervision and enforcement; however, challenges remain in mitigating money laundering risks. Costa Rica is a transit point that is also increasingly used as an operations base for narcotics trafficking; and significant laundering of proceeds from illicit activities continues. Costa Rica should continue to close financial crimes legislative gaps and allocate resources for investigation and prosecution.
Amendments to the law on the financial system include changes to the conditions which must be present in order for an order to be issued for the forced liquidation of an institution.
From a statement issued by the National Congress:
The National Congress approved on Thursday, in the third and final debate, several articles of the decree containing the amendments to the Law on Financial Institutions, which aims to bring legislation into line with international standards and prevent banks from having problems which could lead to a forced liquidation, as recently happened with Continental Bank, through an early and timely action by the supervisory body, preventing savers or account holders from being affected.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control has granted a license, until December 14, 2016, to access the US financial system, and allow the sale of the companies to be managed.
The license granted by the Office of Foreign Assets Control and the US Treasury Department (OFAC) is valid until December 14 this year and authorizes the companies Importadora Maduro, Maduro Internacional and Lindo & Maduro to make arrangements for them to be bought.
In order help keep the chain stores operating, the Office of Foreign Assets Control has authorized the breakdown of links to the ownership and control of Wisa Group.
The aim of these measures is to "protect the workforce", at Felix B. Maduro, Importadora Maduro, S.A. and MaduroInternational, S.A. Grupo Wisa, which can now start a process to disassociate themselves from Wisa, Abdul Waked and Mohamed Abdo Waked.
The Global Financial Integrity report notes that between 2004 and 2013 the flows of money from Costa Rica from laundering and other illicit sources increased by 10% compared to the period 2003-2012.
EDITORIAL
The report entitled "Illicit Financial Flows from Developing Countries: 2004-2013" by Global Financial Integrity, shows that during the 10 years in question, the flow of illicit money from Costa Rica exceeded $11 billion.
The most important international conference on issues of transparency will be held in Panama City from 1 to 4 December 2016.
From a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Panama:
From December 1st to 4th 2016, Panama will host the 17th International Anti-Corruption Conference (IACC), the most important conference around the world in transparency issues.
The Administrative Office of Seized Properties in Honduras will be responsible for overseeing the continued operations of the companies seized from Continental Group.
The Executive ordered the Administrative Office of Seized Property (OABI by its initials in Spanish) to be responsible for seeing that companies seized from the group continue to operate as normally as possible.
Of the countries on the isthmus Costa Rica, Guatemala and Panama stand out as countries that are causing "great concern" in this matter.
From the report by the US State Department: "International Narcotics Control Strategy Report Volume II - Money Laundering and Financial Crimes" March 2015:
Costa Rica
Transnational criminal organizations increasingly favor Costa Rica as a base to commit financial crimes, including money laundering.
The Global Financial Integrity report places Costa Rica and Panama in positions 14 and 18 in the list of countries that moved the largest flows of illegal money in the world between 2003 and 2012.
EDITORIAL
The report entitled "Illicit Financial Flows from Developing Countries: 2003-2012" by Global Financial Integrity, said that between those years, the flow of illicit money in Costa Rica exceeded $94 billion, about $30 billion more than the amount accumulated between 2001 and 2011, according to reports from the same institution in mid-2013.
Although two articles are still pending, the Special Law Against Money Laundering Crimes approved by congress establishes harsher penalties for money laundering.
From a statement issued by the National Congress of Honduras:
The National Congress in session on Thursday, after a third and final debate of Article 74 to 92 of the draft Special Law Against Money Laundering Crimes, now has only two articles pending for Honduras have a new law for the fight against public corruption and establishes harsher penalties for those found guilty of forms of money laundering and is linked with other legislation aimed at implementing anticorruption sanction methods.