The UK justice system apparently didn't buy Wiese's explanation that the money came from diamond deals in South Africa in the 80s and 90s, and had been kept in a safety deposit box in the Ritz hotel because of foreign exchange restrictions in his homeland.

FORBES: Christoffel Wiese's unusual baggage

Some economists have doubts about another proposed move by the central bank: the abolition of most of Brazil's remaining foreign-exchange restrictions.

ECONOMIST: Brazil��s government debt

The alternative, a foreign-owned holding company, must operate under tight restrictions that forbid, for example, inter-company loans, foreign-exchange balancing, import-export, or even consolidated accounts across the subsidiaries.

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