The rise and fall of Douglas Edleman: the hunt for hidden money
The rise and fall of American businessman Douglas Edleman is an interesting story, especially for those of us who have spent years hunting down hidden money around the world. Born in California, Edelman managed to secure more than $7 billion in defense contracts to serve the US invasion of Afghanistan, exploiting his deep knowledge of the Russian fuel industry and the unique patronage of his American bar in Kyrgyzstan.
International cooperation to combat tax evasion
The case was the result of an investigation by the Joint Tax Enforcement Network (J5), an international collaboration between tax authorities in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and the Netherlands, formed in response to investigations by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists into the Panama Papers and Paradise Papers.
Countering free press
Leaked Chinese government records have revealed that Beijing targeted Uyghur-American reporter Shohret Hoşhur as part of a long-running campaign to silence Radio Free Asia, a US-funded news outlet.
Reforms delayed
Cyprus has missed a European Union deadline to set up a national unit to enforce sanctions after objections from the local bar association. The unit was part of a package of reforms prompted by an investigation by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists in Cyprus.
These stories remain a reminder of the importance of international cooperation in fighting corruption and tax evasion, and of the importance of press freedom in uncovering the truth.
By Abdul Ilah Anqir.
