Year: 2024

Region Covered: Qatar, Jordan and Syria

Services: Background Checks | Political Exposure Assessment | Litigation Screening | Security Risk Analysis

Overview

A major financial institution in the UK engaged us to conduct a pre-employment integrity check on a prospective senior hire with regional work experience. The role involved responsibilities that warranted a more detailed background review beyond standard verification procedures.

Our Approach

We conducted a comprehensive integrity assessment using a combination of public records, human intelligence, and reputational analysis. Key components included:

• Identity and credential verification
• Corporate and shareholder searches across the three justifications
• Litigation and regulatory records checks
• Reputational inquiries and media monitoring
• Screening for ties to designated terrorist entities and politically exposed persons (PEPs)

Results

• We confirmed the individual’s maternal link to a prominent former Syrian political figure allegedly connected to individuals suspected of terrorist ties.
• Reputation flagged as mixed: while professionally competent, concerns were raised about perceived proximity to politically sensitive networks

Impact

The client was able to make an informed decision regarding the hiring process, weighing security, political, and reputational risks. The findings contributed to a broader internal risk discussion on vetting procedures for politically exposed or high-risk individuals in sensitive roles.