旅行服务公司Expedia同意和解涉嫌违反美国对古巴制裁令的指控
PHOTO: FABRIZIO BENSCH/REUTERS
Expedia Group Inc. agreed to pay more than $325,000 to settle allegations that it violated U.S. sanctions on Cuba, the Treasury Department said.
美国财政部称，Expedia Group Inc. (EXPE)同意支付逾32.5万美元，和解涉嫌违反美国对古巴制裁令的指控。
The settlement, one of several announced by the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control involving travel services companies, comes as the Trump administration ramps up pressure on Havana over its support of the Nicolás Maduro regime in Venezuela.
这是美国财政部外国资产管制办公室(Office of Foreign Assets Control, 简称OFAC)宣布的涉及旅行服务公司的若干和解协议之一。眼下特朗普(Donald Trump)政府因哈瓦那方面支持委内瑞拉的马杜罗(Nicolas Maduro)政权加紧向其施压。
Wash.-based Expedia allegedly violated U.S. sanctions by helping more than 2,200 people, some of whom were Cuban nationals, with travel or related services for travel within Cuba or between Cuba and places outside the U.S. between 2011 and 2014, according to Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control.
美国财政部OFAC称，总部位于华盛顿州的Expedia涉嫌违反美国的制裁令，于2011至2014年间通过旅行或相关服务为逾2,200人（其中包括一些古巴人）在古巴境内以及古巴与美国境外地区之间的旅行提供帮助。
Expedia didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
Expedia未立即回应置评请求。
OFAC said the alleged violations happened because some Expedia subsidiaries lacked an understanding of and familiarity with U.S. sanctions laws and that the company overlooked aspects of its business that had sanctions compliance risks, according to the settlement agreement.
据相关和解协议，OFAC称涉嫌违反制裁令是因为Expedia的一些子公司不了解、不熟悉美国的制裁法，且该公司忽视了其业务中存在制裁合规风险的一些领域。
Expedia failed to inform at least one foreign subsidiary that it was subject to U.S. law and jurisdiction until about 15 months after its acquisition, according to the settlement.
和解协议显示，Expedia未能及时告知至少一家外国子公司其受制于美国法律和司法管辖，直到距离收购该子公司已过去大约15个月才告知此事。
Expedia voluntarily brought the issue to the attention of OFAC. OFAC credited the company’s remedial efforts after its discovery of the alleged violations and its cooperation with OFAC’s investigation, according to the settlement.
Expedia主动向OFAC报告了上述问题。和解协议显示，OFAC赞扬了该公司在发现涉嫌违规之后所采取的补救措施及其对OFAC相关调查的配合。
图片来源：OFAC网站
OFAC also announced two other separate settlements regarding Cuban sanctions.
OFAC还宣布了另外两项涉及对古巴制裁令的和解协议。
Hotelbeds USA Inc., an Orlando, Fla.-based subsidiary of Spain-based Hotelbeds Group, agreed to pay more than $220,000 to settle allegations that it provided unauthorized Cuba-related travel services to more than 700 people between 2011 and 2014, according to OFAC.
OFAC称，总部位于西班牙的Hotelbeds Group设在佛罗里达州的子公司Hotelbeds USA Inc.同意支付逾22万美元和解所受指控，即涉嫌在2011至2014年间向逾700人提供未经授权的古巴相关旅行服务。
Cubasphere Inc. and an unnamed individual also agreed to pay more than $40,000 to settle allegations that they violated U.S. sanctions on Cuba. The individual and the Pittsburgh-based company allegedly engaged in unauthorized Cuba travel-related transactions and provided unauthorized Cuba travel services to more than 100 people on four separate trips between 2013 and 2014, according to the settlement.
Cubasphere Inc.和一位不愿透露姓名的人士还同意支付4万多美元，就他们违反美国对古巴制裁的指控达成和解。根据和解协议，这名个人和这家总部位于匹兹堡的公司涉嫌在2013年至2014年间四次分别为100多人提供未经授权的古巴旅游服务，进行未经授权的古巴旅游相关交易。
Jonathan Showe, the president of Cubasphere, identified himself in an interview as the unnamed individual in the settlement agreement. He said he has helped facilitate small group visits to Cuba for 20 years and encountered frequently changing regulations under different U.S. administrations. He said he chose to settle rather than deal with a potentially lengthy and costly legal battle.
Cubasphere的总裁乔纳森•休(Jonathan Showe)在接受采访时表示，自己就是和解协议中的未具名人士。他说，20年来，他一直在帮助促进小型团体访问古巴，并在不同的美国政府下经常遇到不断变化的规定。他说，他选择和解，而不是处理一场可能旷日持久、代价高昂的法律战。
Mengqi Sun
（本文版权归道琼斯公司所有，未经许可不得翻译或转载。）
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