Financial Crime

    PEPs & Sanctions

    SWIFT Ban Spares Russian Banks Facilitating EU Energy Trade

    By Manesh Samtani | 03/03/2022

    Sberbank and Gazprombank not included in ban; Global banks demonstrating “extreme caution”; Crypto exchanges under pressure to Russia-linked transactions.

    Anti-Bribery & Corruption

    SFC Permanently Bans Ex-HSBC Employee Over Bribery Convictions

    By Editors | 02/03/2022

    The former vice president accepted gifts as inducements to handle credit applications and maintain the credit facilities for two companies controlled by a client.

    PEPs & Sanctions

    Russia SWIFT Ban Still Being Finalised; China Urges Dialogue

    By Manesh Samtani | 02/03/2022

    Seven Russian banks will likely be cut off from SWIFT; Japan will freeze Russia’s yen reserves; Korea will suspend transactions with seven Russian banks and their subsidiaries.

    Cryptocurrency

    China Supreme Court Makes Crypto Fundraising a Criminal Offence

    By Editors | 02/03/2022

    Fundraising that exceeds CNY 50 million, or losses involving at CNY 25 million or 5,000 people, could result in more than 10 years in prison.

    Anti-Money Laundering

    MAS Issues New AML/CFT Notices for Financial Institutions

    By Manesh Samtani | 02/03/2022

    The Notices cover activities involving precious stones and metals, services and transactions involving digital payment tokens, and risk assessments on shell companies.

    Anti-Money Laundering

    New EU-Wide AML Authority Expected to Oversee Crypto Firms

    By Mark Johnston | 01/03/2022

    A group of EU member states led by Germany is seeking to make the inclusion of cryptocurrency firms under the AMLA’s remit more explicit.

    PEPs & Sanctions

    UK Fast-Tracks Property Ownership Transparency Bill

    By Manesh Samtani | 01/03/2022

    The Economic Crime (Transparency and Enforcement) Bill first promised in 2016 has been introduced in Parliament and will be fast-tracked through the legislature.

    Market Abuse

    HK Court Offers Questionable Rationale in Insider Dealing Case

    By Tom Fyfe | 01/03/2022

    The court’s decision merely transfers illicit profits to a select group of individuals who were “lucky enough to have traded with the insider”, says Tom Fyfe.

    Anti-Money Laundering

    AUSTRAC Launches Federal Court Proceedings Against Crown Casinos

    By Editors | 01/03/2022

    Crown Melbourne and Crown Perth failed to assess ML/TF risk, carry out appropriate due diligence on customers, and establish a transaction monitoring programme.

    Anti-Money Laundering

    US Regulators Fine National Bank of Pakistan $55m for AML Violations

    By Sanday Chongo Kabange | 01/03/2022

    National Bank of Pakistan is required to pay penalties, correct deficiencies in its AML compliance, and submit quarterly progress reports on remedial actions taken.

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