Washington, DC - On International Anticorruption Day and International Human Rights Day, the United States reiterates its commitment to combat corruption and to promote and protect human rights globally. The Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control designated 68 individuals and entities pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13818, which builds upon and implements the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, targeting corrupt individuals and perpetrators of serious human rights abuse.
Designations of the following individuals and entities under E.O. 13818 relate to corruption in Cambodia, Latvia, and Serbia:
TRY PHEAP – built a large-scale illegal logging network that relies on the collusion of Cambodian officials. In one instance, Try Pheap paid Cambodian National Park officials to keep his operations secret from the international community. The following eleven Cambodia-registered entities owned or controlled by Try Pheap were also designated for corruption:
Try Pheap Group., Ltd.
M.D.S. Import Export Co., Ltd.
Try Pheap Dry Port Co., Ltd.
Try Pheap Engineering & Construction Co., Ltd.
Try Pheap Grand Royal Co., Ltd.
Try Pheap Import Export Co., Ltd.
Papa Petroleum Co., Ltd.
Try Pheap Property Co., Ltd.
Try Pheap Travel & Tours Co., Ltd.
M D S Thmorda S E Z Co., Ltd.
Try Pheap Oyadav S E Z Co., Ltd.
KUN KIM – a former senior General in the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF), who has reaped significant financial benefit from his relationship with a People’s Republic of China (PRC) state-owned entity. Kim used RCAF soldiers to intimidate, demolish, and clear out land sought by the PRC-owned entity. Three members of Kun Kim’s family and five entities owned or controlled by these individuals were concurrently designated for corruption:
King Chandy
Kim Sophary
Kim Phara
7 Makara Phary Co., Ltd.
K D Rubber Plantation Co., Ltd.
Cambo Elite Security Force Co., Ltd.
Romdoul Capital Pawn Co., Ltd.
Romdoul Development Co., Ltd.
AIVARS LEMBERGS – the Mayor of Ventspils, Latvia, and an oligarch accused of money laundering, bribery, and abuse of office. The following four Latvia-based entities owned or controlled by Aivars Lembergs were also designated:
Ventspils Freeport Authority
Ventspils Attistibas Agentura (aka Ventspils Development Agency)
Biznesa Attistibas Asociacija (aka Business Development Association)
Latvijas Tranzita Biznesa Asociacija (aka Latvian Transit Business Association)
The following nine individuals and seven associated entities were designated for acting or purporting to act for or on behalf of Slobodan Tesic, a previously designated arms dealer.
GORAN ANDRIC – a close associate of Slobodan Tesic who facilitated arms deals on behalf of designated entities. An entity owned, controlled by, that acted on behalf of, or purported to have acted on behalf of Goran Andric and/or Slobodan Tesic was concurrently designated:
Velcom Trade D.O.O. Beograd
ESAD KAPIDZIC – an associate of Slobodan Tesic who received and moved money on his behalf. Two entities owned, controlled by, that acted on behalf of, or are purported to have acted on behalf of Esad Kapidsic and/or Slobodan Tesic were concurrently designated:
Finrost Limited
Falcon Strategic Solutions D.O.O.
NEBOJSA SARENAC – nephew and close associate of Slobodan Tesic who serves as managing director of previously designated entities associated with the Slobodan Tesic as well as of an entity concurrently designated:
Melvale Corporation D.O.O. Beograd
ZORAN PETROVIC – managing director and principal of previously designated entity that has negotiated on Slobodan Tesic’s behalf.
NIKOLA BRKIC – a principal and legal representative of a previously designated entity involved in Slobodan Tesic’s arms network.
MILAN SUBOTIC – owner, managing director, and representative of the following Serbia-based entity concurrently designated for facilitating Slobodan Tesic’s arms deals:
Vectura Trans DOO
ZELIMIR PETROVIC – owner, managing director, and representative of the following Serbia-based entity concurrently designated for facilitating Slobodan Tesic’s arms deals:
SRETEN CVJETKOVIC – part owner and legal representative of a previously designated entity involved in Slobodan Tesic’s arms network.
LJUBO MARICIC – director of and former representative of previously designated entities involved in Slobodan Tesic’s arms network.
In addition, three separate entities were designated for acting or purporting to act for or on behalf of Slobodan Tesic, a previously designated arms dealer.
MOONSTORM ENTERPRISES LTD – a Cyprus-based entity.
TARDIGRADE LIMITED – a Cyprus-based entity used by Slobodan Tesic to conduct business.
BUSINESS DIVERSITY LIMITED – a Hong Kong-based entity established by Slobodan Tesic to evade U.S. sanctions.
Designations of the following individuals and entities under E.O. 13818 relate to serious human rights abuse in Burma, Pakistan, Slovakia, Libya, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and South Sudan:
MIN AUNG HLAING – Commander-in-Chief of the Burmese security forces, members of which have committed serious human rights abuse under his command.
SOE WIN – Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Burmese security forces, members of which have committed serious human rights abuse during his tenure.
THAN OO – a leader of the 99th Light Infantry Division (Burma), an entity whose members have engaged in serious human rights abuse under his command.
AUNG AUNG – a leader of the 33rd Light Infantry Division (Burma), an entity whose members have engaged in serious human rights abuse under his command.
These designations do not affect Burmese military-owned or operated enterprises.
RAO ANWAR KHAN – former Senior Superintendent of Police in District Malir, Pakistan, responsible for serious human rights abuse, including alleged involvement in over 400 extra-judicial killings, including the murder of Naqeebullah Mehsood.
MARIAN KOCNER – a prominent Slovak businessman charged with ordering the murder of investigative journalist Jan Kuciak and his fiancée, Martina Kusnirova. Marian Kocner is accused of hiring former Slovak Intelligence Service members to surveil Kuciak ahead of the murder. Kuciak’s investigative journalism exposed how Kocner earned millions of Euros through fraudulent tax returns and corrupt dealings and highlighted connections to the police and prosecutors. The following six entities owned or controlled by Marian Kocner were concurrently designated:
Hotel Holding, S.R.O.
International Investment Development Holding A.S.
International Investment Hotels Holding A.S.
Sprava A Inkaso Pohladavok, S.R.O.
Sprava A Inkaso Zmeniek, S.R.O.
Tranz-Tel, A.S.
MAHMUD AL-WARFALLI – a commander of the al-Saiqa Brigade (Libya). Since 2016, al-Warfalli has carried out or ordered the killings of 43 unarmed detainees in eight separate incidents.
The following individuals are being designated for being the leader of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) of the Democratic Republic of Congo or for materially assisting the ADF through recruitment, logistics, administration, financing, intelligence, and operations coordination. The ADF was designated in 2014 as an armed group active in DRC responsible for targeting children in situations of armed conflict, including through killing, rape, abduction, and forced displacement impacting the Great Lakes region.
MUSA BALUKU – leader of the ADF, an entity that has engaged in, or whose members have engaged in, serious human rights abuse.
In addition, five commanders of the ADF who have materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of the ADF, an entity that has engaged in, or whose members have engaged in, serious human rights abuse were designated:
AMIGO KIBIRIGE
MUHAMMED LUMISA
ELIAS SEGUJJA
KAYIIRA MUHAMMAD
AMISI KASADHA
The following members of the security forces of the Government of South Sudan designated for their role in serious human rights abuse including abuse carried out against prominent political and civil society actors whose views did not accord with those of the ruling regime. Government security force actions such as these, which have narrowed political space in South Sudan, are a significant impediment to full implementation of the nation’s peace process. The U.S. decision to designate these individuals reflects our determination to promote accountability of all those impeding South Sudan’s peace process. We urge regional and international partners to take similar action so as to send a clear signal that further delays in South Sudan’s peace process are unacceptable to the international community.
ABUD STEPHEN THIONGKOL – commander of the South Sudan detention facility where a member of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement – In Opposition (SPLM-IO) and a human rights lawyer were held before being killed.
MALUAL DHAL MUORWEL – responsible for or complicit in, or directly or indirectly engaged in the killings of a member of the SPLM-IO and a human rights lawyer and has been identified as the commander of forces who detained and assaulted three international monitors in December of 2018.
MICHAEL KUAJIEN – responsible for or complicit in, or directly or indirectly engaged in the kidnapping of a member of the SPLM-IO and a human rights lawyer.
JOHN TOP LAM – responsible for or complicit in, or directly or indirectly engaged in the kidnapping of a member of the SPLM-IO and a human rights lawyer.
ANGELO KUOT GARANG – responsible for or complicit in, or directly or indirectly engaged in the killings of a member of the SPLM-IO and a human rights lawyer, as well as the killings of other individuals.
All property of the individuals and entities named above is blocked and must be reported pursuant to the laws, regulations, and authority of the Office of Foreign Assets Control. For additional information, click here.
The United States designated these individuals and entities because corruption and serious human rights abuse threaten the stability of international political and economic systems and undermine the values that form stable, secure, and functioning societies. The actions taken by the individuals and entities designated have devastating impacts, weaken democratic institutions, degrade the rule of law, perpetuate violent conflicts, facilitate dangerous activity, and undermine free markets. The United States uses economic sanctions to impose tangible and significant consequences on those who engage in corruption or commit serious human rights abuse.
