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Countries suspend Stanford banks Countries suspend Stanford banks
(about 1 hour later)
Peru and Venezuela have become the latest countries to intervene in local banks controlled by the Stanford group as it faces fraud accusations.Peru and Venezuela have become the latest countries to intervene in local banks controlled by the Stanford group as it faces fraud accusations.
Peru's securities regulator suspended local operations of the Stanford Financial Group for 30 days.Peru's securities regulator suspended local operations of the Stanford Financial Group for 30 days.
It follows action by Panama, Ecuador and Antigua after billionaire Sir Allen Stanford was accused in connection with an $8bn (£5.6bn) investment fraud.It follows action by Panama, Ecuador and Antigua after billionaire Sir Allen Stanford was accused in connection with an $8bn (£5.6bn) investment fraud.
The regulators are hoping to calm customers worried about investments.The regulators are hoping to calm customers worried about investments.
Sir Allen, a 58-year-old Texan, has not been seen by officials since the US Securities and Exchange Commission filed a civil case on Tuesday.Sir Allen, a 58-year-old Texan, has not been seen by officials since the US Securities and Exchange Commission filed a civil case on Tuesday.
The SEC said Sir Allen and two other executives promised clients unrealistic returns on certificates of deposit.The SEC said Sir Allen and two other executives promised clients unrealistic returns on certificates of deposit.
Queues of worried investors have formed at banks associated with him in the US, the Caribbean and Latin America.Queues of worried investors have formed at banks associated with him in the US, the Caribbean and Latin America.
Antigua reacts to Stanford chargesCricket chief under pressureBlog: Mihir BoseProfile: Sir Allen Stanford A civil court judge in the US has frozen the assets of Sir Allen and the other accused as well as those of the Stanford Group, its Antigua-based subsidiary Stanford International Bank (SIB), and another subsidiary, investment adviser Stanford Capital Management.Antigua reacts to Stanford chargesCricket chief under pressureBlog: Mihir BoseProfile: Sir Allen Stanford A civil court judge in the US has frozen the assets of Sir Allen and the other accused as well as those of the Stanford Group, its Antigua-based subsidiary Stanford International Bank (SIB), and another subsidiary, investment adviser Stanford Capital Management.
Peruvian regulators acted after queues of anxious customers gathered at a branch in Lima.Peruvian regulators acted after queues of anxious customers gathered at a branch in Lima.
In Venezuela, Finance Minister Ali Rodriguez said the government would take control of Stanford Bank Venezuela, after a wave of panic withdrawals, even though the bank's assets are separate from SIB.In Venezuela, Finance Minister Ali Rodriguez said the government would take control of Stanford Bank Venezuela, after a wave of panic withdrawals, even though the bank's assets are separate from SIB.
He said that the job of the Venezuelan government was to make sure that what he called "the capitalist crisis" did not affect the Venezuelan economy.He said that the job of the Venezuelan government was to make sure that what he called "the capitalist crisis" did not affect the Venezuelan economy.
Mr Rodriguez said the government would be looking for an explanation from the US authorities about the charges and the financial health of SIB.Mr Rodriguez said the government would be looking for an explanation from the US authorities about the charges and the financial health of SIB.
The Venezuelan government assured investors that the economy was stable and denied that the decision to intervene in the bank was indicative of wider financial problems.The Venezuelan government assured investors that the economy was stable and denied that the decision to intervene in the bank was indicative of wider financial problems.
SEC COURT DOCUMENT Read the allegations filed by the Securities and Exchange Commission in full [6.5MB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader hereSEC COURT DOCUMENT Read the allegations filed by the Securities and Exchange Commission in full [6.5MB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here
A local arm of Stanford Financial Group also halted its activities on the stock exchange in Colombia on Wednesday, and Mexico was also said to be considering measures.A local arm of Stanford Financial Group also halted its activities on the stock exchange in Colombia on Wednesday, and Mexico was also said to be considering measures.
The BBC's Greg Wood, in Houston, said a steady flow of people had turned up at the Stanford group's headquarters in the city on Wednesday, trying find out what had happened to their money.The BBC's Greg Wood, in Houston, said a steady flow of people had turned up at the Stanford group's headquarters in the city on Wednesday, trying find out what had happened to their money.
Hundreds of depositors of Sir Allen's Bank of Antigua in Antigua also sought to withdraw their funds on Wednesday, although the bank is separate from SIB.Hundreds of depositors of Sir Allen's Bank of Antigua in Antigua also sought to withdraw their funds on Wednesday, although the bank is separate from SIB.
The SEC said no-one but Sir Allen and James Davis, SIB's chief financial officer, knew where most of cash has been invested and accused both men of failing to co-operate with investigators.The SEC said no-one but Sir Allen and James Davis, SIB's chief financial officer, knew where most of cash has been invested and accused both men of failing to co-operate with investigators.
Filing a case in the civil courts against Sir Allen, the SEC described the case as "fraud of shocking magnitude that has spread its tentacles throughout the world".Filing a case in the civil courts against Sir Allen, the SEC described the case as "fraud of shocking magnitude that has spread its tentacles throughout the world".
John Fuller, an Antigua-based criminal attorney who has known Sir Allen for 10 years, said the financier would be likely fight hard against the charges.
"He's run a very clean - when I say clean, I mean shiny operation. But one does not know what is going on behind the scenes.
"He could be anywhere. This is a man who has means at his fingertips. He's not a man who's going to take any of this lying down. He will fight it. He will mount a campaign to show that he is a victim rather than the perpetrator. He is a fighter."