Laurent Gbagbo, the former President of the Ivory Coast, was suddenly turned over this week to officials on at the International Criminal Court and transported to The Hague to face trial.  Mr. Gbagbo, who has been under house arrest after a failed attempt to hold onto power after losing a presidential election, has been accused of murder, rape, perseuction, and inhumane acts, all crimes against humanity.  Over 30,000 people were killed during Mr. Gbagbo's illegal attempt to retain power. 

Bruce Zagaris will publish an analysis of this story in the next issue of the IELR.

Citation: Marlise Simons, Ex-President of Ivory Coast Arrives in the Hague to Face Charges, The New York Times, November 30, 2011.

The Arab League agreed on Sunday to impose economic sanctions against Syria and members of the Syrian government, in resposne to reports of widespread violence against civilian protesters.  The Arab League had previously suspended Syria after its failure to implement an agreeed-upon peace plan.  The League also called upon the United Nations to impose similar sanctions, but rejected any call for military intervention.  The sanctions could have some effect on Syria, which relies heavily on trade with its Arab neighbors.  They might also spur renewed calls for action at the United Nations, as countries might be more willing to act if they sense support from reigional associations.

Citation: Neil MacFarquhar and Nada Bakri, Isolating Syria, Arab League Imposes Broad Sanctions, The New York Times, November 27, 2011.

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IELR founder and editor-in-chief Bruce Zagaris recently gave an interview on the "Beyond the Curve" podcast.  The podcast, hosted by Dr. Adriana Sanford and Jeffry O'Brien, featured a discussion on international white collar crime.  

Seif al-Islam el-Qaddafi, the son and presumptive heir of ex-Libyan dictator Muammar el-Qaddafi, has been captured recently in Libya.  The ex-head of the Libyan intelligence service was also captured over the weekend by government forces.  This represents both an opportuntiy and a dilemma for the International Criminal Court (ICC), which has receieved assurances from the Libyan transitional government that both men will face trial in The Hague.  A trial at the ICC could bolster the image of both Libya and the ICC as legitimate entities enforcing international law.  However, the Libyan people also have a desire to try the men locally, which could lead the transitional government to break its promise to the ICC.

Citation: Marlise Simons, International Court Faces Key Test on Libyan Captives, The New York Times, November 20, 2011.

 [caption align=right]lENG Thirith[/caption]

Leng Thirith, the former minister of social affairs for the Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia, has been deemed unfit to stand trial due to Alzheimer's disease, in a ruling issued by a U.N.-backed tribunal in Cambodia.  The sister-in-law of Pol Pot, the Khmer Rouge leader who oversaw the deaths of over 1.7 million people during his genocidal rule, will be released in 24 hours unless prosecutors appeal.  Three co-defendants, all of whom were key figures in the old regime, still face trial.  

Citation: Sopheng Cheang, Cambodian genocide defendant ruled unfit for trial, Associated Press, November 17, 2011.

Russia has recently amended its anti-money laundering laws, partly in order to achieve full membership in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Developemnt (OECD).  The new laws concern the suspicious transaction reports filed by businesses which suspect possible money laundering transactions.  Failure to file these reports can result in fines or suspension of operations.  Russia's actions are also intended to meet OECD's anti-corruption benchmarks, which the IELR recently covered.  See Bruce Zagaris, G20 Agrees to Actions on Tax, Money Laundering, and Corruption Enforcement, 27 Int'l Enforcement L. Rep. (Jan 2011).

Citation: Sergei Blagov, Russia Amends Anti-Money Laundering Law To Enhance Enforcement, OECD Accession, Daily Report for Executives, November 10, 2011.

Alfonso Portillo, the former president of Guatemala, will be extradited to the United States to face embezzlement charges.  Current Guatemalan President Alvaro Colom assented to the U.S. extradition request after the Guatemalan high court approved the request in August.  Portillo, who is accused of embezzling $1.5 million in charitable donations, had previously been extradited from Mexico to Guatemala to face the charges, and was arrested again before he could flee Guatemala.

Citation: Associated Press, Guatemalan leader says he will authorize extradition of ex-president Alfonso Portillo, The Washington Post, November 15, 2011

[caption align=right]© 2011 Human Rights Watch[/caption]

Human Rights Watch released a report on Friday, November 11, 2011, condeming the actions of the Syrian government in the city of Homs.  According to the report, over a hundred civilians have been killed for protesting since the beginning of November.  The report also documented cases of prisoners being tortured and killed by Syrian security forces.  HRW called for Syria's suspension from the Arab League, for international sanctions, and for Syrian leaders to be brought before the International Criminal Court.

The International Criminal Court is considering an investigation of NATO's actions during its campaign in Libya, according to some NATO officials.  As NATO is not a signatory to the ICC treaty, individual member nations might be signaled out instead for violations of wartime conventions.  The possible ICC probe follows comments by Russia and China that NATO overstepped the authority given it by the United Nations Security Council in toppling the Gaddafi regime in Libya.

Citation: Slobodon Lekic and Mike Corder, AP Exlcusive: NATO may face ICC Probe, Associated Press, November 11, 2011.

On November 8, 2011, Assistant Attorney General of the U.S. Lanny A. Breuer, speaking at the 26th National Conference on the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), responded indirectly to calls by the business and criminal justice communities to reform the FCPA.  He said that the U.S. government will not support reforms whose purpose is to diminish the FCPA and make it more difficult to fight foreign bribery.  He noted that world trend towards strengthening anti-corruption (i.e., the UK Bribery Act that took effect in July and the Russian recent enactment of an anti-bribery law as well as the Russian ratification of the UN Convention against corruption and its anticipated accession to the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention.

In an apparent response to criticisms, among others by the Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Mr. Breuer promised to develop a "lay person's guide" to the FCPA and in 2012 to release detailed new guidance on the FCPA's criminal and civil enforcement provisions.  At a hearing on June 14, 20111 of the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and homeland Security, the business and legal community said parts of the FCPA were ambiguous and without sufficient guidance.  See Bruce Zagaris, U.S. Congress Holds Hearing on Reforming the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, 27 Int'l Enforcement L. Rep. 850 (Aug. 2011).