Politically Exposed Person (PEP) Weekly Digest – Volume 99

99th PEP Weekly Digest:

Introducing the 99th 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 Mar 12, 2025 and May 11, 2025. These elections hold significant importance, as they will determine the direction and governance of each respective country’s future.

Raghuji Pant Appointed Minister for Education, Science, and Technology

One noteworthy event has occurred in Nepal, UML lawmaker Raghuji Pant has been appointed minister for education, science and technology. The Office of the President informed that President Ramchandra Paudel made changes in the council of ministers as recommended by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. The post became vacant after outgoing minister Bidya Bhattarai tendered her resignation.

Pant, a standing committee member of the UML, had earlier served as labour minister.

Namibian Agriculture Minister Mac-Albert Hengari Dismissed Over Criminal Allegations

Shifting our focus to Namibia, Mac-Albert Hengari, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform of Namibia, has been dismissed following allegations of rape, bribery, and other serious criminal charges. The decision was made by the Namibian President Dr. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, with his termination taking effect on Wednesday, 23 April 2025.

A statement by the Namibian Presidency said, “By virtue of the powers vested in the President by Article 32(6) of the Constitution of the Republic of Namibia,President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has relieved Hon. Dr. Mac-Albert Hengari of his duties as Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform.

“The termination of tenure takes effect from Wednesday, 23 April 2025 when Hon. Dr. Mac-Albert Hengari should have tendered his resignation. Hon. Hengari has also been withdrawn from the National Assembly.”

Tamil Nadu Ministers Senthil Balaji and Ponmudy Resign; Portfolios Reassigned, New Minister to Be Sworn In

In India, Minister for Electricity, Prohibition, and Excise V. Senthil Balaji and Minister for Forests and Khadi K. Ponmudy have stepped down as ministers. The portfolios previously managed by them have been redistributed among Ministers SS Sivasankar, S. Muthusamy, and R.S. Rajakannappan.

Governor R.N. Ravi has accepted the recommendations made by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin to accept the resignation of the two ministers and to reallocate their portfolios to three other ministers.

Additionally, the Chief Minister has recommended inducting T. Mano Thangaraj, a former minister who represents the Padmanabhapuram Assembly constituency, into the Cabinet. He will be sworn in at a ceremony to be held at the Raj Bhavan on Monday, April 28.

MGM Resorts Fined $8.5 Million by Nevada Regulators Over AML Failures at Flagship Casinos

In the realm of regulatory affairs, the Nevada Gaming Commission (NGC) unanimously approved an $8.5 million fine against MGM Resorts International, marking the culmination of a far-reaching investigation into anti-money laundering (AML) failures at two of its flagship properties, the MGM Grand and The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. The company notably accepted wrongdoing for its transgressions.

The vote finalizes a settlement stemming from a 10-count complaint filed by the Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) last week. The charges, which focused largely on the activities of two illegal bookmakers, Wayne Nix and Mathew Bowyer, span from 2017 to 2020 and include allegations that the properties accepted illicit cash deposits without filing required suspicious activity reports (SARs).

Ex-Russian Deputy Minister of Energy Sergei Mochalnikov Sentenced to 1.5 Years in Prison for Abuse of Office

Shifting our attention to Russia, the Meshchansky District Court of Moscow has sentenced Sergei Mochalnikov, ex-Deputy Minister of Energy of the Russian Federation, to one and a half years in prison for abuse of office. This was reported on April 23 in the joint press service of the courts of the capital.

“By the verdict of the Meshchansky District Court of Moscow, Sergey Viktorovich Mochalnikov was found guilty of committing a crime under Part 1 of Article 285 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation,” the Telegram channel of the instance says.

He was sentenced to 1.5 years in prison and served his sentence in a penal colony.

On October 25, 2024, the official representative of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation, Irina Volk, reported in her Telegram channel that in the period from 2014 to 2023, the former Deputy Minister of Energy signed contracts that provided for the performance of contract work “to eliminate unprofitable and unpromising coal mines and sections.”

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