Ben Cowdock

Investigations Lead at Transparency International UK, Corruption, Money Laundering, Asset Recovery. Views mine.

[Transparency Int'l GE @Transparency_GE]

🧵NEW: TI Georgia's joint investigation with @OCCRP and Georgian investigative journalists found Georgian Oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili's unreported real estate in the prestigious Moscow districts, bringing his total Russian properties to at least $14.7 million in market value.

[Transparency International UK @TransparencyUK]

Transparency International UK welcomes the announcement that the @NCA_UK have secured the forfeiture of millions of pounds of property assets connected to the former central banker of Azerbaijan, Jahangir Hajiyev.

Read our full statement ⤵️

https://t.co/ocAlyPonzQ

[Susan Coughtrie @skcoughtrie]

Huge congrats @TBIJ for successfully fighting off this case. The article in question is still online, but its taken 2 years, vasts amounts of ££, time + other resources, all of which could have gone on more excellent investigative reporting. The #UK needs an Anti-#SLAPP Law ASAP.

[Ben Cowdock @BenCowdock]

This is welcome news. @TransparencyUK previously called for the most rigorous due diligence possible on this proposed takeover: https://t.co/OJxXrkaCWj

[The Guardian @guardian]

UK calls in Czech billionaire’s Royal Mail bid for national security review https://t.co/tvNkSc1ZOU

[Transparency International UK @TransparencyUK]

🗣️ "...the nub of the issue is that these faceless entities are being used to shield people from accountability,”

@bencowdock spoke to @prospect_UK about the use of shell companies to create a layer of opaqueness around dodgy business practices.

https://t.co/AYR5AEFpp3

[George Greenwood @GeorgeGreenwood]

We revealed last year how Banque Havilland had set up an account for Putin ally Boris Rotenberg’s wife #rotenbergfiles

https://t.co/KqIHIKhw4y

[Catherine Belton @CatherineBelton]

Isn't this the Lord Skidelsky who was suspended from the House of Lords after failing to properly declare his links to a think tank funded by Russian oligarchs who have since been sanctioned? https://t.co/dLcC0cndTE

[Ben Cowdock @BenCowdock]

NEW from @RFERL with a little help from @TransparencyUK - How a controversial, politically connected Azerbaijani tycoon poured millions into British real estate and a KFC franchise here 🍗🐔https://t.co/mPIKJ7ViMk

[Ben Cowdock @BenCowdock]

Despite previous denials from his father - who served as Azerbaijan's Transport Minister - reporters found more than 20 KFC restaurants in the North West of England owned and operated by companies belonging to Anar Mammadov.

[Ben Cowdock @BenCowdock]

NEW from @RFERL with a little help from @TransparencyUK - How a controversial, politically connected Azerbaijani tycoon poured millions into British real estate and a KFC franchise here 🍗🐔https://t.co/mPIKJ7ViMk

[Cynthia O’Murchú @cynthiao]

Follow me and @FTAlphaville down a pink-slime coated rabbit hole into the Wild West of the internet - complete with AI generated “authors”, a Tory donor and international intrigue. https://t.co/QbJvxtnuwh
#AI #HerreraVelutini #PinkSlime

[Peter Geoghegan @PeterKGeoghegan]

There’s no political news for three hours.

So sit down and enjoy this *absolute gem* from the indefatigable @cynthiao

Having spent a lot of time digging into Velutini, this is such a terrific account of his wild online world and the reputation laundering that makes it happen

[Susan Hawley @susanpjhawley]

Two alarming stories in today’s @FT that will fuel perceptions that British politicians can easily be bought. 1️⃣ @cynthiao and colleagues on draft memo by Gemcorp stating “we can easily buy access via contributions to Conservative/Labour funds”
https://t.co/uYDkWIOfdM

[Ben Cowdock @BenCowdock]

Interesting detail in here on the processes used by law firms conveyancing property deals for the Hajiyev family and their associates... https://t.co/0Ze7xMB9ik

[Ben Cowdock @BenCowdock]

@DanNeidle I've used it a few times and seem to find "managing officers" rather than beneficial owners. Might just be the companies I'm interested in though... Would be great to be able to analyse the data at scale.

[Ben Cowdock @BenCowdock]

When we analysed off-plan property sales on the expensive new apartments built on the former Heygate estate back in 2017, we found the majority were bought by overseas investors and shell companies. https://t.co/6J8W5Me4td

[Ben Cowdock @BenCowdock]

PPTs can be set up as "ownerless trusts" where a persons' assets are held and managed without them being listed as a beneficiary. An ideal set-up for oligarchs and corrupt politicians to hide their ownership of companies and property. This needs a rethink.

[Transparency International UK @TransparencyUK]

🗣️ "The introduction of PPTs in Scotland risks creating a new way for criminals, sanctioned oligarchs and money launderers to hide their wealth."

@swann_tweets warned @LeaskyHT that legislation on private purpose trusts will help conceal dirty money.

https://t.co/PYpYuFYpKK

[David Leask @LeaskyHT]

Secret owner of Scotland’s biggest complex of at-risk A-listed buildings revealed - thanks to ⁦@TransparencyUK⁩ research. It’s an executive at a sanctioned Russian banking and finance group. https://t.co/gmkyA5rpQX

[Ben Cowdock @BenCowdock]

This follows reporting by the @guardian on the controversial business links of the man bidding to buy Royal Mail. https://t.co/Blcazs1NrP

[Ben Cowdock @BenCowdock]

Some thoughts from me on the important task of vetting prospective buyers of Royal Mail: https://t.co/OJxXrkaCWj