Anti-Money Laundering

Anti-Money Laundering

Former Hong Kong Councillor Jailed for Laundering Scam Proceeds

By Sanday Chongo Kabange | 13/03/2026

The conviction for laundering HKD 590,000 highlights the ongoing risks from telephone scams targeting vulnerable individuals in the city.

Fraud, Scams & Cybercrime

Singapore Court Jails Chinese National over $6.9m Crypto Theft

By Nithya Subramanian | 13/03/2026

Chinese national Zhang Xinghua jailed two years for role in multi-million-dollar SafeX cryptocurrency theft involving insider access and laundering attempts.

PEPs & Sanctions

US Sanctions North Korea IT Worker Network in Vietnam and Laos

By Manesh Samtani | 13/03/2026

The action targets facilitators using cryptocurrency to launder funds, heightening secondary sanctions and due diligence risks for financial institutions in Southeast Asia.

Anti-Money Laundering

US Treasury Recognises Legitimate Use of Crypto Mixers, Seeks New Powers

By Manesh Samtani | 12/03/2026

A key report signals a nuanced US stance on privacy tools while proposing a "hold law" to freeze suspicious digital assets.

Anti-Money Laundering

Thailand Freezes 10,000 Crypto Accounts in AML Crackdown

By Editors | 12/03/2026

The action follows the rollout of a new ‘Speed Bump’ protocol and stricter KYC checks designed to disrupt illicit fund flows.

Stablecoins

Japan FSA Prioritises Real-World Use Cases to Guide Digital Asset Rule-Making

By Manesh Samtani | 12/03/2026

A senior official outlined Japan's focus on fostering real-world applications for stablecoins and tokenised assets while seeking global consensus on DeFi.

Anti-Money Laundering

When Financial Crime Converges: Asia Pacific’s New Equation

By Bradley Maclean | 12/03/2026

Across APAC, financial crime threats have converged, turning fragmented data, siloed teams, and legacy controls into critical institutional vulnerabilities.

Anti-Money Laundering

New FATF Report Calls for Crackdown on Offshore Crypto Providers

By Manesh Samtani | 12/03/2026

New report outlines risks from offshore crypto firms and calls for coordinated global action from regulators and financial institutions.

Anti-Money Laundering

US Treasury Reports Flag Evolving Threats Emanating from APAC

By Manesh Samtani | 11/03/2026

New assessments detail sophisticated North Korean schemes, the dominance of Chinese money laundering networks, and industrial-scale fraud syndicates in Southeast Asia.