Financial Crime

PEPs & Sanctions

OFAC Sanctions Ukrainian Nationals Identified as “FSB Pawns”

By Manesh Samtani | 23/01/2022

The action is separate from the “broad range of high impact measures” the US and its allies may impose if Russia invades Ukraine.

Payments & Settlements

Singapore, Indonesia to Deepen Cooperation on Payments, AML

By Editors | 22/01/2022

MAS and Bank Indonesia will deepen cooperation on payments innovation, monetary policy, macroprudential policy, financial stability, and AML/CFT.

DeFi & Web3

OECD Examines Policy Implications of DeFi in New Report

By Mark Johnston | 22/01/2022

An increased use of stablecoins constitutes “one of the greatest points of vulnerability of the DeFi market” and a potential channel of risk transmission to the traditional financial markets.

Operational Risk

Chinese Private Banks Violating New Online Lending Rules

By Editors | 21/01/2022

New rules which took effect from 1 January prohibit local and regional banks from extending online loans to borrowers outside of their operating territories.

Anti-Money Laundering

AUSTRAC Expands AML Probe of Star Casino Group to ‘Other Entities’

By Sanday Chongo Kabange | 21/01/2022

AUSTRAC has advised Star that it has not yet made a decision regarding its regulatory response, including whether or not enforcement action will be taken.

Fraud, Scams & Cybercrime

FSC Taiwan Lowers Notification Threshold for Online Transactions

By Sanday Chongo Kabange | 21/01/2022

Banks have six months to update their system to reflect the new TWD 3,000 threshold that will trigger notifications that an online card transaction has taken place.

Supervision & Enforcement

Malaysia Receives KPMG Payment to Settle 1MDB Claims

By Editors | 21/01/2022

The 1MDB funds recovered so far are only enough to pay off the principal owed for 2022. The remaining debt will continue to be bourne by the government.

Anti-Money Laundering

MAS Fines Vistra Trust for Failures in AML Controls

By Editors | 20/01/2022

Vistra failed to identify certain higher risk accounts and to subject these accounts to EDD measures, both during account acquisition as well as on an ongoing basis.

KYC & CDD

SFC Fines Zhonghui International Futures for KYC/AML Failures

By Manesh Samtani | 20/01/2022

This is the second fine imposed against a firm over the use of a customer supplied system called Xinguanjia, which allows the creation of subaccounts that can be operated by a third party.