Documents related to JTI and Syria

La demande a été rejetée par Office européen de lutte antifraude.

Dear European Anti-Fraud Office,

Under the right of access to documents in the EU treaties, as developed in Regulation 1049/2001, I am requesting documents which contain the following information:

All documents and correspondence related to OLAF's investigation of links between Japan Tobacco International (JTI), JTI's Middle Eastern distributor IBCS Trading, Syria Duty Free Shops (SDF) Ltd, and Rami Makhlouf.

Documents showing when OLAF was first aware of the link between Assad and JTI.

Documentation of the launch of OLAF's investigation of the links between Makhlouf, SDF Ltd, and JTI.

All information and documents given by Cypriot authorities to OLAF regarding JTI's links to Makhlouf, SDF Ltd, and Assad. All correspondence between Cypriot authorities and OLAF on this subject. All meetings between Cypriot authorities and OLAF on this subject.

All meetings between OLAF and JTI on the subject of the investigation of links between JTI, IBCS Trading, Syria Duty Free Shops Ltd, and Rami Makhlouf. All negotiations related to this investigation.

Yours faithfully,

Aisha Down

Dear European Anti-Fraud Office,

I would like to follow up to check and see if you have received this request. I await your response on October 23rd.

Yours faithfully,

Aisha Down
[ADDRESS REDACTED]
[ADDRESS REDACTED]

Office européen de lutte antifraude

Dear Ms Down,
 
We hereby acknowledge receipt of your request for access to documents.
 
In accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 regarding public access to
European Parliament, Council and Commission documents, your request will
be handled within 15 working days. The time limit will expire on
23/10/2019. In case this time limit needs to be extended, you will be
informed in due course.
 
Yours faithfully,
 
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
EUROPEAN ANTI-FRAUD OFFICE (OLAF)
Directorate C: Investigation Support
Unit C.4 – Legal Advice

Rue Joseph II, 30 • B-1000 Brussels (Belgium)
[1]http://ec.europa.eu/anti_fraud
Our policy regarding personal data protection can be viewed on
[2]http://ec.europa.eu/anti_fraud/about-us/...
 
 

References

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1. http://ec.europa.eu/anti_fraud
2. http://ec.europa.eu/anti_fraud/about-us/...

Office européen de lutte antifraude

Dear Ms Down,

We refer to your requests for access to document dated 02/10/2019. Your application is currently being handled. However, we are not in a position to complete the handling of your application within the time limit of 15 working days.

Therefore, we have to extend the time limit with 15 working days in accordance with Article 7(3) of Regulation (EC) N° 1049/2001 regarding public access to documents.

We apologize for this delay and for any inconvenience this may cause.

Yours faithfully,

EUROPEAN COMMISSION
EUROPEAN ANTI-FRAUD OFFICE (OLAF)
Directorate C: Investigation Support
Unit C.4 – Legal Advice

Rue Joseph II, 30 • B-1000 Brussels (Belgium)
http://ec.europa.eu/anti_fraud
Our policy regarding personal data protection can be viewed on http://ec.europa.eu/anti_fraud/about-us/...

Dear European Anti-Fraud Office,

It is my understanding that by law, you should have responded to this request by now. Please clarify where this stands. If necessary, we can talk on the phone about the expected timeline.

Yours faithfully,

Aisha Down

Office européen de lutte antifraude

1 Attachment

Dear Ms Down,

Please find enclosed the reply to the above mentioned subject. We apologize for the delay due to technical reasons. The paper copy is following by registered post.

Yours faithfully,

EUROPEAN COMMISSION
EUROPEAN ANTI-FRAUD OFFICE (OLAF)
Directorate C: Investigation Support
Unit C.4 – Legal Advice

Rue Joseph II, 30 • B-1000 Brussels (Belgium)
http://ec.europa.eu/anti_fraud
Our policy regarding personal data protection can be viewed on http://ec.europa.eu/anti_fraud/about-us/...

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Dear European Anti-Fraud Office,

Please pass this on to the person who reviews confirmatory applications.

I am filing the following confirmatory application with regards to my access to documents request 'Documents related to JTI and Syria'.

I would like you to review this refusal, for the following reason: I believe there is an overriding public interest in disclosure. Investigations have demonstrated that tobacco majors bribe authorities and exploit war zones to sell their products. https://www.bbc.com/news/business-40787784
https://seatca.org/revealed-how-british-...

Such was the suspicion in Syria: https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB100008723...

This behavior is deeply immoral and costs lives. The public has a right to understand what is being done about it by law enforcement authorities they trust. This investigation is over five years old. Surely, at this point, public understanding and corporate accountability are a greater concern than future audits on a closed case.

If the refusal stands, then please provide information on the future inspections or audits that necessitate this information being kept secret.

A full history of my request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address: https://www.asktheeu.org/en/request/docu...

Yours faithfully,

Aisha Down

Office européen de lutte antifraude

Dear Ms Down,

We refer to your e-mail dated 20/11/2019 in which you request a review of the decision to reject access the document.

Your application is currently being handled. However, we will not be in a position to complete the handling of your application within the time limit of 15 working days, which expires on 13/12/2019.

An extended time limit is needed in view of the complexity of your request. Therefore, we have to extend the time limit with 15 working days in accordance with Article 8(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 regarding public access to documents. The new time limit expires on 15/01/2020.

We apologize for this delay and for any inconvenience this may cause.

Yours faithfully,

EUROPEAN COMMISSION
EUROPEAN ANTI-FRAUD OFFICE (OLAF)
Directorate C: Investigation Support
Unit C.4 – Legal Advice

Rue Joseph II, 30 • B-1000 Brussels (Belgium)
http://ec.europa.eu/anti_fraud
Our policy regarding personal data protection can be viewed on http://ec.europa.eu/anti_fraud/about-us/...

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Dear European Anti-Fraud Office,

Many thanks. I eagerly await your response on the fifteenth of January.

Yours faithfully,

Aisha Down

Office européen de lutte antifraude

1 Attachment

Dear Ms Down,
 
Please find enclosed the reply to your confirmatory request for public
access to documents of 20 November 2019.
This will also be sent by registered mail.
 
Yours sincerely,
 
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
EUROPEAN ANTI-FRAUD OFFICE (OLAF)
Directorate C: Investigation Support
Unit C.4 – Legal Advice

Rue Joseph II, 30 • B-1000 Brussels (Belgium)
[1]http://ec.europa.eu/anti_fraud
 
Our policy regarding personal data protection can be viewed on
[2]http://ec.europa.eu/anti_fraud/about-us/...
 
 

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