On June 1, 2020, the Department of Justice (DOJ) issued a revision of its guidance on the Evaluation of Corporate Compliance Programs.[1] The Guidance sets forth for companies general principles and elements to consider when designing, implementing, and updating their compliance policies and procedures. The DOJ considers, in conducting an investigation of a corporation, whether to bring charges and negotiate plea or other agreements.[2]  In addition, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines advise that consideration be given to whether the corporation had in place at the time of the misconduct an effective compliance program for purposes of calculating the appropriate organizational criminal fee.[3] This article highlights the new Guidance and action items that entities with compliance programs should consider in light of the new Guidance.

On June 5, 2020, Europol started the new European Financial and Economic Crime Center (EFECC).  The European Union Anti-money Laundering Action Report[1] mentioned the start of the EFECC, partly in response to the various anti-money laundering scandals in the European Union (e.g., Danske Bank[2] and Swedbank.)[3]

                On June 3, 2020, the U.S. Department of Justice filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska a forfeiture complaint[1] alleging that assets equivalent to more than $20 million are subject to forfeiture based on violations of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and federal money laundering statutes.[2]

                On May 28, 2020 , the United States Attorney for the District of Columbia unsealed an indictment, charging 28 North Korean and five Chinese nationals with using more than 350 shell companies to launder over $2.5 billion in assets through the international financial system.[1]

On May 26, 2020, Judge Chana Lomp of the Jerusalem District Court determined in a 40-page ruling that Malka Leifer is fit to stand trial on charges of child sexual abuse in relation to the extradition warrant from Australia.[1]

On May 28, 2020, in the case of United States v. Meng, 2020 BCSC 785, Associate Chief Justice Heather Holmes of the Supreme Court of British Columbia denied Wanzhou Meng’s request for an order discharging her from the extradition process on the basis that, as a matter of law, the “double criminality” requirement for extradition cannot be met.[1]

On May 7, 2020, the European Commission published an ambitious and multifaceted Action Plan, which sets out concrete measures that the Commission will take over the next 12 months to better enforce, supervise, and coordinate the EU's rules on combating money laundering and terrorist financing. The aim of this new, comprehensive approach is to shut down any remaining loopholes and remove any weak links in the EU's rules.[1

On May 20, 2020, United States authorities detained former Green Beret Michael Taylor, 59, and his son Peter, 26, in Massachusetts on charges that they helped ex-Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn escape Japan last December.[1]

Since, 2016, May 23, 2020 has marked the annual EU Day against Impunity for genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes. The Croatian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the European Commission, Eurojust, and the Network for investigation and prosecution of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes (the Genocide Network) co-organized this day.^[1]