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“Federicos” Want AIBL Compensation for Sanctuary Scam Victims
posted (May 6, 2019)
Last week we told you how UDP Senator Aldo Salazar - was held back for questioning by the Federal Trade Commission - while traveling through the US on official business - as part of a high level delegation returning from Taiwan.

It's part of the FTC's probe into Atlantic International Bank where Salazar did work as an attorney - and it has far reaching effects on Belize's Offshore banking Sector. It's already forced AIBL to wind up its operations - and the Prime Minister said today that he's been talking to the Americans to try and work out a settlement:...

Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
"I don't know if he was detained. I gather that he was questioned about Atlantic International Bank but the bank is now in liquidation. The Central Bank has appointed a liquidator, Mr. Murillo. I don't mind telling you that I had a meeting with the U.S. Charge d affaires on Tuesday and the FTC people called into that meeting. We were having the meeting and wanting to participate and so we are talking a settlement. We are talking a settlement. So I am hopeful that we can get a settlement. The question is how to reconcile the FTC's interest, as they put it, victim compensation and our interests which also has to be in their interest as well, in making sure of depositors eighty add percent of whom are Americans don't get left with nothing. The Central Bank has a vested interest. You can call the Central Bank an interested party and the Government of Belize is very keen on seeing this thing sorted because we want whatever cloud the AIBL saga has caused to be lifted from over our jurisdiction."

Reporter
"Why is it that there must be a settlement? Why is it that the government is involved the way it is involved, especially if the bank had started we have absolutely anything to do with fraud, we were just providing a service and at the end of the day the people who are to be held responsible are the scammers."

Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
"I accepted what the Atlantic International Bank has said you know. I'd looked at it and I didn't think they did anything, but that doesn't matter, does it? The FEDS have decided they did. They FEDS brought this civil complaint against them and the FEDS - there is good friend of ours who refers to them as Federico. When Federico comes for you, you could holler Rome. Sure you might say it is not fair, but Federico doesn't care about fair - maybe it cares about FEAR."

The receiver for Atlantic International is former banker Julian Murillo.

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