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Argentines shocked by verdicts in sex slave trial
Dec 12, 2012, - 0 Comments

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — The acquittal of 13 people accused in the disappearance of a young woman who was allegedly kidnapped and forced into prostitution for "VIP clients" spread shock and outrage across Argentina on Wednesday, prompting street protests and calls by political leaders to impeach the three judges who delivered the verdict.

Many called the ruling a setback for Argentina's efforts to combat sex trafficking, which began largely as a result of Susana Trimarco's one-woman, decade-long quest to find her missing daughter, Maria de los Angeles "Marita" Veron. Her attorneys said she would pursue appeals.

Trimarco's search exposed an underworld of organized crime figures who operate brothels with protection from authorities across Argentina.

Security Minister Nilda Garre called the verdict "a tremendous slap in the face for the prospect of justice."

Wal-Mart Inquiry Reflects Alarm on Corruption
Dec 12, 2012, - 0 Comments

Nov. 15, 2012 The New York Times

Wal-Mart on Thursday reported that its investigation into violations of a federal antibribery law had extended beyond Mexico to China, India and Brazil, some of the retailer’s most important international markets.

The disclosure, made in a regulatory filing, suggests Wal-Mart has uncovered evidence into potential violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, as the fallout continues from a bribery scheme involving the opening of stores in Mexico that was the subject of a New York Times investigation in April.

The announcement underscores the degree to which Wal-Mart recognizes that corruption may have infected its international operations, and reflects a growing alarm among the company’s internal investigators. People with knowledge of the matter described how a relatively routine compliance audit rapidly transformed into a full-blown investigation late last year — involving hundreds of lawyers and three former federal prosecutors — when the company learned that The Times was examining problems with its operations in Mexico.

Police officer acted like 'sexual predator'
Dec 11, 2012, - 0 Comments

The Independent

A police officer acted like a "sexual predator" and used his position of trust to "further his sexual ambitions", a court heard today.

Pc John Alan Forrester, 40, took advantage of women he came into contact with while carrying out his job as a neighbourhood police officer in north Liverpool, the city's Crown Court heard.

Forrester, from Halewood, Liverpool, is charged with four counts of misconduct in a public office in relation to engaging or attempting to engage three separate women in sexual activity.

He is also charged under the Data Protection Act with eight counts of accessing personal data on the police computer system, which involve a further two women.

Duncan Bould, opening the case on behalf of the prosecution, said: "The prosecution say there is a theme which runs through each of these 12 charges.

"In short, we say that he has used his professional position as a policeman to take advantage of females with whom he came into contact while doing his job.

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