Politically Exposed Person (PEP) Weekly Digest – Volume 80

80th PEP Weekly Digest:

Introducing the 80th edition of The PEP Weekly Digest, where we present to you the most recent updates and news on the global political stage.

Recent and upcoming elections influence the worldwide political landscape in eight nations, slated between Nov 17, 2024 and Feb 09, 2025. These elections hold significant importance, as they will determine the direction and governance of each respective country’s future.

Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar Appointed New Attorney General of Malaysia

One noteworthy event has occurred in Malaysia, The Attorney General’s Chambers’ (AGC) Datuk Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar has been appointed as the new attorney general of Malaysia stepping in to replace outgoing Tan Sri Ahmad Terrirudin Mohd Salleh. Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar made the announcement the appointment of Mohd Dusuki, who is currently the head of the AGC’s Trial and Appeals Division. According to Shamsul Azri, the 57-year-old Mohd Dusuki was born in Machang, Kelantan and has a law degree from the International Islamic University Malaysia, and a master’s in law from the University of Wollongong in Australia

Mohammad Ghazi al Jalali has resigned as Prime Minister

Shifting our focus to Syria, Syria’s former prime minister Mohammed Ghazi al-Jalali has agreed to hand power to rebel forces after they took over the capital city, Damascus. The ousted president Bashar al-Assad and his family are believed to be in Moscow after being granted asylum.

Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni Resigns Amid Power Struggle with Royal Family

In Tonga, Tonga’s Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni abruptly resigned, stepping down in the wake of a power struggle with the Pacific nation’s royal family. Sovaleni has butted heads with Tonga’s influential King Tupou VI, fuelling speculation of a deepening rift between the royals and his government. Sovaleni resigned before facing a vote of no confidence brought on by opposition lawmakers. Tonga’s hereditary nobles occupy nine seats in the country’s 26-member legislative assembly.

Klarna Bank Fined £35M by Swedish Regulator for Anti-Money Laundering Failures

In the realm of regulatory affairs, Klarna has been fined over £35m (500m Swedish crowns) by the Swedish financial regulator after it broke anti-money laundering rules. The regulator slammed “significant deficiencies” in Klarna’s risk controls. It probed Klarna’s compliance with AML regulations during the period April 1 2021 and 31 March 2022. Sweden’s Financial Supervisory Authority (FI) said the Swedish BNPL firm- which recently filed for an IPO in the US- had been in “violation” of several key rules. It said Klarna’s risk assessment has had “significant deficiencies”, saying it had not contained any assessment of how the bank’s products and services could be used for money laundering or terrorist financing. The regulator also said Klarna did not have “procedures and guidelines that capture all situations for when due diligence measures should be taken for customers that use Klarna’s invoice product. But the regulator said the violations were not so severe as to issue a warning to Klarna or withdraw authorisation. Instead, it hit Klarna with a 500m Swedish crown fine

Former Armenian Minister Andranik Piloyan Sentenced to 5 Years for Corruption

Shifting our attention to Armenia, Andranik Piloyan, a former Armenian minister of emergencies, was sentenced to five years in prison at the end of his corruption trial. Armenia’s Anti-Corruption Court found him guilty of bribery, abuse of power and fraud. Piloyan was arrested on these charges in March 2022 while still serving as a minister in Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian’s cabinet. He was released on bail six months later. Armenia’s Anti-Corruption Committee said at the time that Piloyan received a kickback in return for making decisions that benefited a private contractor. The law-enforcement agency said he was also bribed by one of his subordinate.

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