NEWS: SFO launches fraud probe after Thurrock Council allegedly scammed for millions

Regulatory Watch News

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  DORA – Submission timeframe for register of information for third-country branches of credit institutions having their head office in a third country

  CSSF

  February 17, 2026

  As indicated in the CSSF communiqué of 11 February 2026, with the publication of Q&A DORA102 – 3097 on the applicability of Regulation (EU) 2022/2554 (DORA) to third-country branches, the ESAs clarified that third-country branches of credit institutions having their head office in a third country, have to submit a register of information to the CSSF.

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  Call for evidence on ownership and control in financial sanctions regulations

  OFSI

  February 16, 2026

  OFSI has launched a call for evidence to seek industry’s views on how UK financial sanctions regulations on ownership and control are applied in practice, including how firms implement the regulations and where they face challenges.   

  The ownership and control test is designed to stop sanctioned individuals and entities from sidestepping UK sanctions by hiding behind complex company structures, trusts or proxies. However, industry representatives report to OFSI that assessing the ability of a designated person to control an entity – even if they are not actively doing so – can be difficult in practice and may create additional costs and legal risk. 

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  Spain: Fraudster convicted to three years in prison for impersonating service provider to EU mission in Somalia

  European Public Prosecutor's Office

  February 16, 2026

    (Luxembourg, 16 February 2026) – A Spanish citizen was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment for impersonating a service provider to the EU mission in Somalia, in order to fraudulently obtain funds, following an investigation by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Madrid (Spain). At issue are funds allocated to the EU Capacity Building Mission in Somalia (EUCAP Somalia), mandated to assist Federal Somali Police Force and Somali authorities to enhance law enforcement capabilities and strengthening maritime security.