US probing Dutch firm for alleged sanctions-busting

US probing Dutch firm for alleged sanctions-busting

The Hague (AFP) - US officials are investigating a Dutch satellite
communications company suspected of flouting US and EU sanctions slapped
on states such as Iran, Syria and Myanmar, a Dutch daily said Tuesday.

A secret report from the now bankrupt Imtech maritime group allegedly
revealed "how extensive the illegal trade was" by its subsidiary Radio
Holland, the De Telegraaf newspaper said.

The internal audit completed in February, months before Imtech declared
bankruptcy, found 198 possible violations of sanctions imposed on the
three countries as well as on Cuba and South Sudan.

There were allegedly 51 deliveries to "denied entities or persons" with
whom US and EU companies are barred from doing business, the paper said.

Specifically, Radio Holland was allegedly trading with six blacklisted
Iranian companies, five of which work in the oil industry.

A spokeswoman for Radio Holland told AFP the company had no comment on
the allegations.

International sanctions have been placed on the five countries and
targeted leaders for different reasons, including for supporting terror
groups as well as for violating human rights.

Although the Imtech report did not specify when the violations occurred
or what equipment had been sold, Radio Holland is believed to have
supplied sensitive radio and navigation systems to different countries
over several years, De Telegraaf said.

Sanctions on Iran are being eased after it ended a 12-year standoff with
world powers and reached a July 14 deal on freezing and dismantling its
suspect nuclear industry.

And while sanctions remain in place in war-torn South Sudan and Syria,
they have also been gradually eased or lifted amid political changes in
Cuba and Myanmar.

Radio Holland, which specialises in communications and navigation
technology, employs some 2,400 people in 30 countries around the world.
It was acquired by Imtech in 2006 for some 47 million euro.

Imtech declared bankruptcy in August and has since been sold off to
different buyers. Radio Holland has been merged into the new
Rotterdam-based RH Marine group.

Source: US probing Dutch firm for alleged sanctions-busting - Yahoo News
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