A FORMER Jersey Financial Services Commission employee who took confidential documents from an application file, and then presented them to his subsequent employer as the ‘gold standard’ for such paperwork, has been spared prison. Accountant Timothy Owen Jones, of St Peter, pleaded guilty in the Magistrate’s Court to one count of disclosing information about Belasko […]

When assessing anti-money laundering risk and exposure, global financial institutions should be mindful of the complex landscape and assertions of broad authority by U.S. authorities and banking regulators. U.S. banking regulators, in conjunction with U.S. criminal and civil authorities, have traditionally pursued anti-money laundering and sanctions enforcement cases against multinational banks in relation to conduct […]

Update prepared by Mathew Cook (Counsel, Jersey) Following much anticipation, we now have a chance to review the public statement and identify key learning points for industry. The Jersey Financial Services Commission (the JFSC) has had the power to issue civil penalties since March 2015 and this week issued the first penalty. With the expansion […]

The government of Canada has updated its Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Counter Financing of Terrorism (CFT) rules, CoinDesk reported. The amendments, which were finalized last month, target cryptocurrency exchanges operating in the country, among other things. The objective of these amendments is to address and close the gaps that exist in Canada’s AML/ATF Regime. According […]

Personal management licence holders at Casino 36 must undertake extra training as part of a £300,000 penalty package for money laundering and social responsibility failures. A Gambling Commission investigation revealed the operator had failed to ensure adequate customer Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD), Source of Funds (SOF) and Source of Wealth (SOW) checks were carried out […]

Trust and company service providers (TCSPs) are involved in a wide range of services and activities for their clients. These services include: acting as a director or secretary of a company or similar position, providing a registered office or business address for a company, acting as trustees of an express trusts, among others. Not all […]

As at writing (28th June 2019), the JFSC has not issued a civil fine – however the JFSC claim to have issued a TCB  with Civil Penalty warning. After issuing the warning, they first wanted a reporting professional to provide an independent report on the state of the TCB systems and controls. The result of the report was a positive […]

Speed read Trust and fiduciary services provider Estera has been hit with heavy penalties by the Bermuda Monetary Authority (BMA) after it failed to address anti-money laundering issues in its internal processes. The hefty fine of $500,000 (£400,000; €447,000) relates to the Jersey-headquartered firm’s failure to comply with anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing (AML/CTF) legislation […]