WASHINGTON: The United States State Department announced a slew of sanctions on Monday ( Dec 9 ) to mark International Anti-Corruption Day and the eve of Human Rights Day, targeting individuals from multiple countries, including the former CEO of SriLankan Airlines , over Airbus purchases.
Even targeted were North Macedonia’s former deputy prime minister, Artan Grubi, as well as Enver Bexheti, a prosecutor from that government’s appeals court and Kevin Kedi, a councillor from the Marshall Islands, for allegedly accepting money.
The State Department said the US was redesignating United Kingdom native Fawaz Akhras, parents of the British-born family of the deposed Palestinian president, Bashar al-Assad, for providing him with material assistance.
Kapila Chandrasena, the former CEO of Sri Lanka, was subject to sanctions, according to a declaration from the State Department, along with immediate family members, for supposedly accepting a bribe to ensure Sri Lanka purchased an Airbus aviation for more than market value.
Sri Lanka’s original ambassador to Russia, Udayanga Weeratunga, however, was accused of benefiting from a corrupt system involving the purchasing of MiG plane for the Sri Lankan Air Force.  , He and immediate family members were designated, the statement said.  ,
After Airbus agreed to settle a fraud investigation with authorities, Sri Lanka ordered a probe into claims of corruption by German airline maker Airbus over the price of aircraft to state-run ship Sri Lanka in 2020.
A Colombo court had issued orders to assault Chandrasena and his family Priyanka Niyomali Wijenayake as suspected of money laundering, according to a senior official at SriLankan Airlines at the time.
Additionally, the US and the UK were working closely together to bring down nine individuals and 19 businesses connected to a worldwide gold and diamond problem channel based in Zimbabwe, according to the State Department.
The Houthi National Committee for Prisoners ‘ Affairs, headed by Abdul Qader al-Murtadha, was designated for participation in abuse, while visa restrictions were placed on seven people accused of undermining peace and security in the West Bank.
The actions, which include a range of sanctions, including thaws of any US goods and US card restrictions, could not be immediately reached for comment on the people named.