(July 19, 2004) Riggs Bank, which for years billed itself as “the most important bank in the most important city in the world,” now finds itself the most scrutinized bank in the most unforgiving city in the world.
Other News Sources
Acres accused of still owing $2-million in fines
(July 19, 2004) Convicted of bribing an African official, company says it’s paying penalty in stages.
China’s dams threaten Mekong, conservationists say
(July 19, 2004) China is harnessing the power of water to satisfy its growing demand for energy. But some conservationists warn that China’s quest is damaging one of the world’s longest and most resource-rich rivers, the Mekong.
Acres accused of still owing $2 million in fines
(July 19, 2004) Durban and Toronto:The prosecutor who won a precedent-setting bribery case against Acres International in Lesotho says the Canadian engineering firm has yet to pay the bulk of its fine and owes the equivalent of nearly $2 million.
Pinochet continues to haunt Chile’s civilian government
(July 18, 2004) In theory, the Augusto Pinochet era ended long ago, and Chile is now a modern and prosperous country that has healed the scars inflicted by the dark years of his dictatorship.
Dutch to write off some Iraq debt
(July 18, 2004) The Netherlands is prepared to grant Iraq debt relief on some of the 245 million euros ($302.6m) it is owed in export credit and interest, a Dutch minister was quoted as saying.
U.S. asks Lesotho bribe prosecutor to attend inquiry
(July 18, 2004) Guido Penzhorn who has been successfully prosecuting mutinationals for corruption in Lesotho, has been invited to appear before the U.S. foreign relations committee in its hearings on corruption in World Bank-funded projects.
‘Forgive Africa’s debt and use cash to combat Aids’
(July 17, 2004) The head of the United Nations agency for Aids called yesterday for the foreign debt of African countries to be forgiven and the money put into programmes to tackle the Aids epidemic.
Audit: poor control of Iraq oil money
(July 16, 2004) A UN-backed watchdog has reported weak controls over Iraqi oil riches under the US-led occupation, including use of the money for a no-bid Halliburton contract.
Nairobi ‘unlikely’ to break IMF impasse
(July 15, 2002) The stalemate preventing Kenya from regaining access to World Bank and IMF credit is also jeopardising the country’s chances of negotiating lenient loan-repayment terms with the Paris Club of donors.
Corrupt influence by Big Oil alleged
(July 15, 2004) Senate panel uncovers deals in West Africa.
Bank, Big Oil tied to African payments
(July 15, 2004) Congress finds millions were sent to the rich and powerful in Equatorial Guinea after a probe that started with the venerable Riggs Bank.
British envoy denounces Kenya’s ‘looting spree’
(July 15, 2004) Leadership ‘eats like a glutton’: Country faces losing international donors if corruption not stopped.
Paris bank is subpoenaed in U.N. Oil-for-Food probe
(July 15, 2004) A House committee has issued a subpoena for financial records from a French bank that managed billions of dollars in Iraqi oil revenue through a U.N.-administered humanitarian program.
Abuse of power
(July 14, 2004) After flagrant abuse by Saddam and gross mismanagement by the UN, Iraq’s Oil for Food program is spawning another cliche: a nine-headed monster of an investigation.


