Latest news with #SanctionsAct
Scoop
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Peters Fails Again – Time For Real Action On Occupied Gaza
The Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa says New Zealand's signature on a joint statement of 25 countries on Gaza is meaningless without concrete action. PSNA Co-Chair John Minto says Peters' statements in the media this morning, fall well short of the condemnation in the joint statement, and are what Minto calls the usual ducking the issue of Israeli culpability. 'Peters still can't bring himself to criticise Israel in Gaza – even after 21 months of mass killing and mass starvation of Palestinians. He condemns a suffering situation, but carefully avoids stating who it causing it.' Minto says there is an extensive list of actions the government must take if it's serious. 'I'm sure the Israeli ambassador in Wellington is happily reporting to his ministry in Tel Aviv that the New Zealand government is still tolerating mass starvation, bombing civilians and ethnic cleansing.' Minto says. 'If the New Zealand government was serious, it would implement this list': 1. Back the call from UN Special Rapporteur for the OPT, Francesca Albanese for military protection for aid convoys to enter Gaza. 2. Close the Israeli embassy in Wellington 3. End trade and investment ties with Israel 4. Deny entry visas for all Israeli Defence Forces personnel 5. Introduce legislation to sanction Israel the same as the Russia Sanctions Act 6. Cease approval for Rakon to export crystal oscillators which may be used by the Israeli military for targeting Gaza and other Israeli assault zones 7. Ban all Rocket Lab launches of satellites used for Israeli reconnaissance over Gaza 8. Suspend all bilateral agreements with Israel; movie co-production, overflight agreement and technological cooperation 9. Stop remittances going to Israel, such as funds for the racist Jewish National Fund 10. Cut scientific, academic, sport and cultural ties with the State of Israel 11. Sell all New Zealand's Superfund investments in Israeli companies 12. Vote to suspend Israeli membership of the United Nations for not withdrawing from all the Occupied Palestinian Territory 13. Cease approving Israeli munitions transporter ZIM Shipping using our ports 14. Join the case against Israeli genocide in the International Court of Justice 15. Sign onto the Hague Group of countries working to ensure Israel complies with International Law
The Sun
25-04-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Dutch probe largest shipyard on corruption, sanctions charges
THE HAGUE: Dutch prosecutors said on Friday they had brought criminal charges against the country's largest shipbuilder, including in relation to breaking sanctions against Russia. Based in Gorinchem near the port of Rotterdam, Damen Shipyards is being probed for bribery, forgery and money laundering, the Public Prosecutions Service (OM) said. 'This occurred in connection with the sale of ships abroad. In addition, the OM also summoned Damen for violating the Sanctions Act,' it said. The second summons 'relates to violating sanctions imposed in response to the war between Russia and Ukraine', the OM added. Prosecutors brought two separate cases against Damen -- the first into the alleged bribery in the sale of ships between 2006 and 2017. The second was for selling goods and technology 'that could contribute to the military and technological strengthening of Russia' after Moscow's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The first probe focused on alleged large commissions paid to agents used for selling ships to various countries in Africa, Asia and South America. 'Over a number of years, a large number of false documents have probably been drawn up in order to conceal the high commission payments to agents and to frustrate control of it, including in applications for export credit insurance,' the OM said. In the second probe, Damen allegedly continued deliver goods and technology to Russia despite European Union sanctions against Moscow. This investigation focused on the second half of 2022. Damen responded by saying the OM's first probe 'mainly concerns suspicions of forgery, no longer mainly corruption'. 'Damen has assessed the file and concludes that the Public Prosecution Service does not have a feasible case,' it said. '(The company) has always acted in accordance with the applicable sanctions packages and... full transparency has been exercised about its activities,' Damen added. 'The sanctions probe was a case involving the supply of a very limited number of civilian cranes to Russia. This delivery took place within the sanctions legislation in force at the time,' it said. The company, which employs some 12,000 people and operates in 120 countries, said it 'foresees a long legal battle'. Damen is the main shipbuilder for the Dutch navy, including its frigates, combat support ships and offshore patrol vessels. The case is likely to start later this year with a court date still needed to be set.
The Sun
25-04-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Dutch Shipbuilder Damen Faces Criminal Charges Over Sanctions
THE HAGUE: Dutch prosecutors said on Friday they had brought criminal charges against the country's largest shipbuilder, including in relation to breaking sanctions against Russia. Based in Gorinchem near the port of Rotterdam, Damen Shipyards is being probed for bribery, forgery and money laundering, the Public Prosecutions Service (OM) said. 'This occurred in connection with the sale of ships abroad. In addition, the OM also summoned Damen for violating the Sanctions Act,' it said. The second summons 'relates to violating sanctions imposed in response to the war between Russia and Ukraine', the OM added. Prosecutors brought two separate cases against Damen -- the first into the alleged bribery in the sale of ships between 2006 and 2017. The second was for selling goods and technology 'that could contribute to the military and technological strengthening of Russia' after Moscow's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The first probe focused on alleged large commissions paid to agents used for selling ships to various countries in Africa, Asia and South America. 'Over a number of years, a large number of false documents have probably been drawn up in order to conceal the high commission payments to agents and to frustrate control of it, including in applications for export credit insurance,' the OM said. In the second probe, Damen allegedly continued deliver goods and technology to Russia despite European Union sanctions against Moscow. This investigation focused on the second half of 2022. Damen responded by saying the OM's first probe 'mainly concerns suspicions of forgery, no longer mainly corruption'. 'Damen has assessed the file and concludes that the Public Prosecution Service does not have a feasible case,' it said. '(The company) has always acted in accordance with the applicable sanctions packages and... full transparency has been exercised about its activities,' Damen added. 'The sanctions probe was a case involving the supply of a very limited number of civilian cranes to Russia. This delivery took place within the sanctions legislation in force at the time,' it said. The company, which employs some 12,000 people and operates in 120 countries, said it 'foresees a long legal battle'. Damen is the main shipbuilder for the Dutch navy, including its frigates, combat support ships and offshore patrol vessels. The case is likely to start later this year with a court date still needed to be set.
Reuters
25-04-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Prosecutors accuse Dutch shipbuilder Damen of corruption, violating sanctions
AMSTERDAM, April 25 (Reuters) - Dutch prosecutors said on Friday they had summoned shipbuilder Damen Shipyards on suspicion of violating EU sanctions against Russia and opened a separate case against the company and some of its executives for corruption. The company denied both sets of accusations. On the sanctions case, it said it had "always acted in accordance with the applicable sanctions packages" and was "surprised that one case from June 2022 is now being submitted to the court". On the corruption charges, it said it was "confident in the lawsuit, and finally gets the chance to explain the suspicions of the public prosecution service are incorrect". The inquiry on a possible violation of the Sanctions Act was led by the Dutch customs and focused on goods and technology that could have strengthened the Russian military, based on actions in 2022, prosecutors said in a statement. In the corruption case, Damen and some of its executives would be prosecuted for suspected bribery, forgery and money laundering when ships were sold abroad over a period running from 2006 to January 2017. In October 2023, Damen sued the Dutch government over damages it said it had suffered due to European sanctions against Russia. Family-owned Damen, which employs 12,000 people, is expected to win a large share of the Dutch government's multi-billion euro plans to replace nearly its entire navy fleet in the coming 15 years.
