Panama's legislature has unanimously passed the anti-money-laundering law that the Financial Action Task Force and the American government have long wanted to see in place.

The law imposes AML reporting obligations on 'designated non-financial businesses or professions,' otherwise known as DNFBPS. Casinos - not an insignificant part of the small country's economy - are included for the first time but also, more crucially for the high-net-worth market, are lawyers and real-estate brokers.

President Nicolas Maduro has simultaneously formed a 'special committee' to investigate tip-offs about HNW Venezuelans who live in Panama and who may have obtained their wealth through corruption, many of whom are thought to be 'politically exposed persons' or PEPs.

The makings of another PEP investigation began a few days ago when Panama’s Electoral Court formally stripped former President Ricardo Martinelli (pictured, talking to an audience of Americans) of his immunity from prosecution as a member of parliament. He ruled Panama - revelling in the nickname 'Il Duce' - between 2009 and 2014 and is to be the target of a corruption probe. Wikimedia states that he is thought to have sponsored a fraudulent bidding process with food providers but his alleged scams exceed that allegation by far.