Politically Exposed Person (PEP) Weekly Digest – Volume 115

115th PEP Weekly Digest:

Introducing the 115th edition of The PEP Weekly Digest, where we present to you the most recent updates and news on the global political stage.

Recent and upcoming elections influence the worldwide political landscape in eight nations, slated between Jun 08, 2025 and Sep 03, 2025. These elections hold significant importance, as they will determine the direction and governance of each respective country’s future.

Karnataka Minister KN Rajanna Resigns Amid Voter List Controversy, Pressure from Congress High Command

One noteworthy event has occurred in India, Karnataka Cooperation Minister KN Rajanna, a close aide of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, resigned on Monday, August 11, after a controversy erupted over his remarks on alleged voter list irregularities. The comments drew sharp criticism from Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar’s supporters and reportedly went against the Congress high command’s line.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah accepted the resignation and forwarded it to Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot, who signed on it immediately.

According to media reports, Rajanna submitted his resignation to CM Siddaramaiah following instructions from the party leadership. Speaking to the media before meeting the CM, Rajanna said, “I am going to meet the CM now. I don’t know what it is about. I am not the one to stick to power. I make decisions based on the issue. I don’t know what the high command is upset about. No one from the high command has spoken to me. I will only speak after the high command has given instructions.”

Dr. Neil Parsan Appointed Trinidad and Tobago’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations

Shifting our focus to Trinidad and Tobago, Dr Neil Parsan has been appointed Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago to the United Nations, New York.

The Ministry of Foreign and Caricom Affairs in a release reported Minister of Foreign and Caricom Affairs Sean Sobers presented the Instrument of Appointment on behalf of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar to Parsan, during a brief ceremony held on August 6 at the Ministry’s headquarters.

“Ambassador Parsan officially assumed duties at the Permanent Mission of Trinidad and Tobago to the United Nations, New York, on 11th August, 2025. The jurisdiction of the Permanent Mission includes United Nations organisations, where Trinidad and Tobago actively advances its positions on matters of international peace and security, sustainable development, human rights, and other priority areas,” the release stated.

Stefano Famiglietti Sworn In as Rhode Island State Senator

In the United States, Stefano Famiglietti has been sworn in as Rhode Island’s newest state senator, after winning the Senate District 4 seat held for four decades by the late Senate President Dominick Ruggerio.

Famiglietti, a lawyer and North Providence town councilman when he announced for the seat, had 83% of the vote to 16% for his Republican opponent Alexander Asermely, in the special election that followed Ruggerio’s death.

He resigned his council seat effective 3 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 14, about an hour before his swearing-in.

Senate District 4 represents most of North Providence and a slice of northwestern Providence.

Secretary of State Gregg Amore administered the oath of office to Famiglietti in the Senate chamber with his family, Ruggerio’s family and most of the North Providence Town Council looking on.

Liberia Fines Colony Casino L$10 Million for Major Anti-Money Laundering Violations

In the realm of regulatory affairs, the Financial Intelligence Agency (FIA) of Liberia has issued a L$10 million fine to Colony Casino for multiple breaches of the country’s Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) laws.

The sanction follows a risk-based compliance inspection conducted from October 10–14, 2024. The inspection reviewed the casino’s programs, policies, procedures, and controls as required by the AML/CFT Act of 2021.

The FIA’s report found that the gaming establishment, owned by Ziang Lizhuang and Daoud Rabani, had no internal program to prevent money laundering, failed to appoint a Compliance Officer, and lacked systems to monitor and report suspicious transactions.

Former Minister Bacchu Kadu Gets 3-Month Jail for Assaulting IAS Officer in 2019

Shifting our attention to India, a special court sentenced former state minister Bacchu Kadu to three months’ imprisonment in a case over assaulting an IAS officer at the state secretariat in 2019.

The former MLA had lifted the officer’s iPad and gestured to hit him, which the court said was not a casual act but one that conveyed the intention to cause harm.

The court said that merely because he was a sitting MLA at that time, he did not have the licence to deter a public servant by criminally intimidating him.

Kadu was found guilty under sections 353 (use of criminal force to deter public servant), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 504 (intentional insult) of the Indian Penal Code.

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