NEW: A controversial plea deal between the U.S. and money launderer #RezaZarrab just got more complicated.

We reveal that Zarrab still has ties to his criminal network and has received dubious wire transfers since entering the agreement with the gov't. 1/ occrp.org/en/how-iran-us…
Who is Reza Zarrab?

The FBI arrested the money launderer in 2016 for helping Iran dodge international sanctions. So far he’s avoided a long prison sentence by agreeing to testify against a Turkish bank at the center of his criminal operation. 2/
occrp.org/en/how-iran-us…
Under an opaque and controversial plea deal, Zarrab has been allowed to live a government-sanctioned life of luxury under a false name in South Florida.

Today’s investigation uncovers how he’s bankrolled much of this lifestyle 👇3/ ImageImage
Financial records obtained by OCCRP show that Zarrab’s lifestyle has been financed through wire transfers from dubious companies and people in Turkey

Some of these transactions have also funded his passion for thoroughbred horses and a luxury equestrian business. 4/ ImageImage
Reza Zarrab operates under his multiple aliases, including “Aaron Goldsmith,” the name listed on his official U.S. employment authorization card.

He’s used this government-approved alias to open bank accounts and incorporate his horse business. 5/ Image
Under his plea deal, Zarrab can travel around the tri-state area and South Florida at will, and can get prior approval for any other trip. It’s unclear if his trips to equestrian events around the U.S. have been approved by the gov't, or if authorities are even aware of them. 6/
This investigation was a collaborative effort with @LawCrimeNetwork and @MiamiHerald.

For more on Reza Zarrab and his impact on geopolitics, read this special edition of the OCCRP newsletter. 7/ mailchi.mp/occrp/halkbank…

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More from @OCCRP

6 Dec
NEW: Our latest from the #PandoraPapers reveals the role of Russian and Indian businessmen in a massive corruption scheme that cost the Maldives close to $80 million. 1/
occrp.org/en/the-pandora…
OCCRP reported in 2018 how top officials in the Maldives accepted bribes to illegally lease dozens of islands for tourism development. 2/
Many recipients of the leases remained anonymous due to their use of offshore corporate holdings. 3/
Read 4 tweets
1 Dec
NEW: OCCRP and partners have uncovered shell companies in Luxembourg and Panama that may have allowed Venezuelans accused of corruption to acquire luxury Caribbean real estate. #OpenLux 1/ occrp.org/en/openlux/tra…
2) Prosecutors in Andorra charged dozens with receiving money plundered from Venezuela’s state oil company in 2018, including:
➡️ Ex-deputy Venezuelan electricity minister Javier Alvarado Ochoa (below)
➡️ His romantic partner Cecirée Casanova
➡️ José Luis Zabala, a middleman Image
3) Using corporate records from the #OpenLux project, reporters found ties between this trio and luxury real estate in Latin America, including this Cartagena hotel where rooms go for $272 a night. Image
Read 6 tweets
30 Nov
🚨 @YouTube has inexplicably removed a video uploaded by our Kyrgyz member center @Kloopnews ahead of national elections.

Kloop editors believe this was the result of "an orchestrated campaign to flood this video with complaints." #PressFreedom 1/
occrp.org/en/40-press-re…
Kloop has also been blocked from uploading any new videos, preventing the site from reaching a large portion of its audience in the crucial post-election period. 2/
.@YouTube has provided no explanation, communicating only through automated messages that stated, bizarrely, that the election monitoring video contained "harassment and bullying." 3/
Read 5 tweets
29 Nov
NEW: Leaked data shows Belarusian oligarch Aliaksei Aleksin gave Alexander Lukashenko’s security services vehicles worth ~$1.7m.

These gifts came shortly after the strongman gave Aleksin near monopolistic control over the country’s tobacco industry. 1/
occrp.org/en/investigati…
2) The oligarch even donated a few recreational vehicles to Lukashenko's security team, including:

➡️ A 2018 BCC Vintage
➡️ Two Maybach 62S
➡️ A 1958 Chevrolet Impala
➡️ A vintage 1969 Jawa 350 motorcycle
➡️ A 2015 Spyder F3SM6 three-wheeler
3) Lukashenko has been seen riding in vehicles that closely resemble those donated by Aleksin, including a vintage 1967 GAZ-69, a classic Soviet car that he used to give a personal tour of his hometown to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Read 6 tweets
10 Nov
OCCRP and @rapplerdotcom recently exposed ties btw Michael Yang, a close ally of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, and a growing COVID-19 procurement scandal.

Now, revelations show Yang is suspected of having run a meth network. Here's what we know 👇
occrp.org/en/investigati…
2) In August, we uncovered that Taiwanese businessmen with close ties to Michael Yang were behind Pharmally Pharmaceuticals, an obscure firm that received the Philippines' largest contracts — by far — for COVID-19 PPE. Yang was a key financier in the deal.
rappler.com/newsbreak/inve…
3) The investigation has sparked a political furore in the Philippines.

The Senate issued two arrest warrants for Yang, who was also recently placed on an immigration watchlist.

But accusations against Yang go beyond shady procurement deals. 👇 rappler.com/nation/senate-…
Read 5 tweets
25 Oct
NEW: As Huawei inked a major deal to overhaul Serbia's telecom infrastructure, the Chinese tech giant paid large sums to an offshore firm linked to a former executive at Serbia’s state-owned telecommunications company, the #PandoraPapers reveal. 1/7

occrp.org/en/the-pandora…
Telekom Srbija began purchasing Huawei equipment during Igor Jecl's tenure at the state-owned company.

He left in 2008. But with @KRIKrs, we reveal that his dealings with Huawei did not end there. He appears to have received over $1.4 million from the Chinese multinational. 2/7
@KRIKrs This all happened offshore, through Rofly Investments Ltd 🇻🇬, which was carefully set up to obscure its ownership. #PandoraPapers documents show the shell company received over 650,000 euros from Huawei.

Rofly began transferring money and real estate to Jecl. 3/7
Read 7 tweets

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