Financial Crime

Anti-Money Laundering

SFC Fines Arta Global Futures and Suspends Ex-Directors for AML Breaches

By Editors | 04/07/2025

The SFC has penalised Arta Global Futures and suspended two former senior executives over systemic AML and trading surveillance failures.

Anti-Money Laundering

BFIU Freezes Accounts of Eastern Bank Chairman Over Suspicious Transactions

By Nithya Subramanian | 04/07/2025

Bangladesh’s FIU has frozen credit card activity as well as asked banks to submit transaction details.

KYC & CDD

Philippine Central Bank to Issue Circular on Online Gambling Risks

By Sanday Chongo Kabange | 04/07/2025

The BSP says it will require banks and electronic money issuers to better protect users of their digital platforms from online gambling risks.

Anti-Money Laundering

How Hong Kong is Tackling the Money Mule Threat

By Manesh Samtani | 04/07/2025

Industry experts discussed the growing sophistication of money mule networks and the complexities of detecting and offboarding suspicious accounts.

Anti-Money Laundering

AUSTRAC Orders External Audit of Western Union Over “Core” AML Issues

By Sanday Chongo Kabange | 04/07/2025

AUSTRAC’s concerns are “core anti-money laundering issues” and whether Western Union’s AML/CTF programme is functional.

Fraud, Scams & Cybercrime

ASIC Issues Warning on ‘High-Pressure’ Sales Tactics in Super Sector

By Sanday Chongo Kabange | 03/07/2025

ASIC’s warning comes amid rising cases of retirement savings into “complex and risky schemes”.

Supervision & Enforcement

HK Review Panel Urges Overhaul of MPFA's Fining and Sanctioning Policies

By Sanday Chongo Kabange | 03/07/2025

An independent review panel has called for greater consistency in the MPFA's enforcement actions, raising concerns over its new fining mechanism.

Anti-Money Laundering

Japan FSA Flags Banks, Crypto as High-Risk for Money Laundering

By Editors | 03/07/2025

The FSA will focus on verifying the effectiveness of AML/CFT systems at FIs in preparation for the next FATF mutual evaluation.

Market Abuse

Hong Kong AFRC Fines Ex-CITIC Banker Over Insider Dealing

By Sanday Chongo Kabange | 03/07/2025

The AFRC has sanctioned Wu Kam Shing after a tribunal found he used confidential information from his banking role for personal gain.