The Covid-19 pandemic has been a global crisis that has affected every aspect of our lives. However, it has also opened up opportunities for illicit activities, including money laundering. This is particularly true in the case of Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs) who have been able to exploit the situation for their own gain.
In this context, we will focus on the case of Austria and the suspicious activities that have taken place during the pandemic.
Creating Fear: The first step in this process was creating fear. The pandemic itself was a source of fear, but this was amplified by constant media coverage and dire predictions about the future. This fear was used as a tool to justify extreme measures and to make people more willing to accept these measures without question.
Lock-Downs: The lockdowns were one of these extreme measures. While they were necessary to control the spread of the virus, they also had significant economic impacts. Many businesses were forced to close, leading to job losses and financial instability. This created an environment ripe for money laundering, as people were desperate for financial relief and less likely to question where that relief came from.
PCR Tests: PCR tests became a crucial part of managing the pandemic. However, there were concerns about their accuracy and their cost. In Austria, there were reports of non-transparent procurement processes for these tests, raising suspicions about potential corruption and money laundering.
2G Regime: The 2G regime (vaccinated or recovered) introduced in Austria further deepened societal divisions and created opportunities for corruption. There were reports of fake vaccination certificates being sold, which could potentially be linked to money laundering activities.
Compulsory Vaccination Vote in Parliament: The vote on compulsory vaccination in parliament was another controversial issue. It raised questions about the influence of pharmaceutical companies and potential conflicts of interest among politicians.
Total Population Vaccination Campaign: The campaign to vaccinate the entire population was a massive undertaking. It involved significant amounts of money, much of which was not transparently accounted for. This lack of transparency raised suspicions about potential money laundering.
Hiding Covid Vaccination Effects: There are also concerns about the lack of transparency regarding the side effects of the vaccines. This lack of transparency could potentially be used to hide illicit financial activities.
Non-transparent Money Flows: The most significant concern is the non-transparent flow of money during the pandemic. In Austria, more than 40 billion euros were spent on managing the pandemic. However, there is little transparency about where this money went, raising serious concerns about potential corruption and money laundering.
In conclusion, the Covid-19 pandemic has created an environment ripe for corruption and money laundering. To address this issue, several steps need to be taken:
1. Increase Transparency: There needs to be greater transparency in how funds are spent and who benefits from them.
2. Strengthen Oversight: Oversight bodies need to be strengthened to ensure they can effectively monitor and investigate potential corruption.
3. Improve Legislation: Legislation needs to be improved to make it harder for PEPs to exploit the system.
4. Enhance International Cooperation: International cooperation needs to be enhanced to tackle this global problem.
5. Educate the Public: The public needs to be educated about these issues so they can hold their leaders accountable.
By taking these steps, we can crack the Covid-money laundering code and ensure that future crises do not provide opportunities for corruption and illicit activities.
