There is some probability that former Pilatus Bank Chairman Ali Sadr Hasheminejad may be collaborating with U.S. law enforcement, according to Kenneth Rijock's Financial Crime Blog.
The U.S. government dropped charges against Hasheminejad who was arrested for breaching U.S. economic sanctions against Iran by sending more than $115 million from Venezuela through U.S. banks.
"Maltese businessmen and government officials who have been implicated in one or more money laundering operations, whether that be at Pilatus Bank, Satabank, Portmann Capital, or another criminal organization, are feeling the long arm of the American justice system reaching out for them, and they are scared," Rijock stated.
Rijock questioned why such "white-collar career criminals who pose as legitimate businessmen, bankers and public sector office holders uncomfortable about their futures."
"Some of these indictments may already have resulted from Grand Jury action, and are only sealed because the Malta defendants are outside the jurisdiction of the United States," the blog continued.
Rijock added that "adding to this general belief in Malta that Ali Sadr was not really the victim of overzealous American prosecutors who made massive discovery errors, but was cooperating early on his case, and the so-called disclosure failures were intentional, to cover up the fact that Ali Sadr, though his lawyers fought a tough battle, was in truth and in fact a Cooperating Individual, and you have a perfect storm of fear and loathing in their minds."
Although there is no concrete evidence and "we can only see a few glimpses of conduct that tends to prove this theory," Rijock believes that they are clear and convincing.
He stated that "these very individuals who are involved in Malta's financial crime have ceased to visit the United Kingdom." This, he said, as the UK generally cooperates witht he USA when it involves criminals wanted in America.
"Some Maltese have cancelled all their trips abroad, fearing that they may, inadvertently, be caught in the American web of extradition treaties," Rijock added.
Furthermore, Rijock also claimed that "one prominent Maltese national moved his daughter out of the United States last year, and permanently relocated her to Germany out of fear that she would be arrested and charged as part of a money laundering conspiracy, and used as leverage against her parents, so that he surrenders himself."