March 11, 2015: SECO updates Cote d’Ivoire, Congo, Syria sanctions

On March 11th, Swiss regulators updated three sanctions programs. First, they delisted the following person sanctioned under the Cote d'Ivoire program:

SSID: 30-23759 Name: N'Guessan Pascal Affi

DOB: 1 Jan 1953 POB: Bouadriko, Ivory Coast Nationality: Ivory Coast Identificationdocument: Diplomatic passport No. AE 09DD00013, Ivory Coast

Justification: Chairman of the Ivorian Popular Front (FPI): obstruction of the peace andreconciliation process, incitement to hatred and violence. Modifications: Listed on 22 Jan2013, de-listed on 11 Mar 2015

Second, they amended the following 30 persons and 8 entities sanctioned under the Democratic Republic of the Congo program. Some of the narratives are extremely lengthy, so we won't post the details here – the PDF linked to below has all of it (18 pages worth).

Lastly, under the Syrian sanctions program, the following person was delisted:

SSID: 200-12305 Name: Mazen al-Tabba

DOB: 1 Jan 1958 POB: Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic Identification document:Passport No. 004415063, Syrian Arab Republic, Expiry date: 6 May 2015

Justification: Business partner of Ihab Makhlouf and Nizar Al-Assad; co-owner, with RamiMakhlouf, of the Al-Diyar lil-Saraafa (a.k.a. Diar Electronic Services) currency exchangecompany, which supports the policy of the Central Bank of Syria. Relation: a) Businesspartner of Ihab Makhlouf (SSID 200-11761) b) Business partner of Nizar Al-Assad (SSID200-11857) c) co-owner with Rami Makhlouf (SSID 200-11672) Modifications: Amended on6 Nov 2013, de-listed on 11 Mar 2015

and changes were made for these 3 individuals:

SSID: 200-11739 Name: MohamedMohammed Hamcho

DOB: 20 May 1966 Identification document: Passport No. 002954347, Syrian ArabRepublic

Justification: Prominent Syrian businessmanbusinessman, owner of Hamcho International,close to key figures of the Syrian regime, including President Bashar al-Assad and localagentMaher al-Assad. Since March 2014, he has held the position of Chairman for severalforeign companies; associateChina of Maher Al-Assad, managing a part ofthe BilateralBusiness Councils following his financial and economic interestsappointment by the Ministerof Economy, Khodr Orfali. Mohammed Hamcho benefits from and as such providesfundingsupport to the Syrian regime and is associated with persons benefiting from andsupporting the regime. Relation: a) Owner of Hamcho International (SSID 200-12352) b)Close to Bashar Al-Assad (SSID 200-11614) c) Close to Maher Al-Assad (SSID 200-11625)Modifications: Amended on 6 Nov 2013, 11 Mar 2015

SSID: 200-11810 Name: Khalid Qaddur

Good quality a.k.a.: a) Khaled b) Qadour (QaddourQaddour, Kaddour)

Justification: Business associate ofProminent Syrian businessman, close to Maher Al-Assad;al-Assad, a key figure of the Syrian regime. Khalid Qaddur benefits from and providesfundingsupport to the Syrian regime and is associated with persons benefiting from andsupporting the regime. Relation: Close to Maher Al-Assad (SSID 200-11625)Modifications: Amended on 6 Nov 2013, 11 Mar 2015

SSID: 200-11836 Name: Ayman Jabir

POB: Latakia, Syrian Arab Republic Good quality a.k.a.: a) Jaber b) Aiman

Justification: AssociateProminent Syrian businessman, close to key figures of Mahir Al-Assad for the Shabiha militia. Directly involved in repressionSyrian regime such as Maher al-Assad and violence againstRami Makhlouf. He has also provided support to the regime byfacilitating the civilian populationimportation of oil from Overseas Petroleum Trading to Syriathrough his company El Jazireh. Ayman Jabir benefits from and coordination of Shabihamilitia groups. Also providing financialprovides support to the regime and is associated with persons benefiting from and supporting the regime. Relation: a) Associate ofClose to MaherAl-Assad (SSID 200-11625) b) Close to Rami Makhlouf (SSID 200-11672) Modifications:Amended on 6 Nov 2013, 17 Dec 2014, 11 Mar 2015

and one entity:

SSID: 200-12352 Name: Hamcho International (Hamsho International Group)InternationalGood quality a.k.a.: Hamsho International Group Address: Baghdad Street, P.O.Box 8254,Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic

Justification: ControlledHamcho International is a large Syrian holding company owned byMohammadMohammed Hamcho. Hamcho or Hamsho;International benefits from andprovides fundingsupport to the regime and is associated with a person benefiting from andsupporting the regime. Other information: Tel.: +963 11 2316675, Fax: +963 11 2318875,Website: http://www.hamshointl.com, E-mail: info@hamshointl.com andhamshogroup@yahoo.com. Modifications: Amended on 6 Nov 2013, 11 Mar 2015

The Watchlist page has been updated

Links:

FINMA Notices – Cote d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Syria

Data Files of updates: Cote d'Ivoire – PDF, XML

Data Files of updates: Democratic Republic of the Congo – PDF, XML

Data Files of updates: Syria – PDF, XML

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