New SDNs Include Lebanese Businessmen and Member of Parliament

Earlier today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced that it had sanctioned three individuals for their roles in corruption in Lebanon:

• Jihad al-Arab (al-Arab), a wealthy businessman who has been awarded multiple public contracts in exchange for kickback payments to government officials.
• Dany Khoury, the recipient of large public contracts that have reaped him millions of dollars while failing to meaningfully fulfill the terms of those contracts.
• Jamil Sayyed, a sitting Member of Lebanon’s Parliament, was aided by a senior government official in transferring over $120 million to overseas investments, presumably to enrich himself and his associates.

All three have been added to OFAC's Specially Designated Nationals And Blocked Persons List (SDN List).

The OFAC action was "pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13441, which targets persons contributing to the breakdown of the rule of law in Lebanon."

OFAC published a press release which includes additional background on the individuals, sanctions programs, and situation in Lebanon. Lebanon is the subject of a country-specific sanctions program under EO 13441, as well as U.S. and international export restrictions and arms embargoes (e.g., ITAR §126.1(t)).

This action is a reminder that sanctions lists are subject to daily change and may apply to individuals in business and politics, in addition to entities. Keep up with these and other changes with ECScreening.