The US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has sanctioned three Paraguayan individuals, Kassem Mohamad Hijazi (Kassem), Khalil Ahmad Hijazi (Khalil) and Liz Paola Doldan Gonzalez (Doldan), for their involvement in corruption in Paraguay. Five entities linked to their corruption schemes have also been sanctioned. All sanctions are under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act. This Act targets those involved in corruption and serious human rights abuse globally.
Kassem runs a Paraguay-based money laundering organization while maintaining strong ties with Paraguayan police officers, district attorneys, and even government officials. He uses import and export companies to import electronic equipment from the US and sell it in Paraguay. Kassem’s network allows him to easily launder the illicit proceeds across the world. Meanwhile, Kassem’s associate Doldan used her Paraguay-based company Mobile Zone International Import-Export S.R.L. to purchase goods from a US-based company, which would then send these goods to various Paraguay-based shell companies. This allowed her to pay less taxes on imports.
Authorities have designated both Kassem and Doldan for being foreign persons who have assisted, sponsored, or provided support for corruption. OFAC is also designating Kassem’s company Espana Informatica S.A. and Doldan’s company Mobile Zone International Import-Export S.R.L. Khalil was the president of Kassem’s company Espana Informatics S. A. and was thus designated too. The OFAC has blocked all US-based or US-controlled properties of Kassem, Khalil and Doldan. Entities in which the designated persons hold 50 percent or more shares have also been blocked.
Source: US Department of the Treasury