Anti-Money Laundering/Counter-Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT)

OVERVIEW OF SINGAPORE'S ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING/COUNTER-FINANCING OF TERRORISM (AML/CFT) FRAMEWORK

Money laundering (ML) can be defined as the process whereby criminals introduce the proceeds of their criminal activities into the world's financial system in an attempt to disguise the true source of the funds. These funds may be proceeds from drug trafficking or other serious crimes. The laundering of tainted funds in this manner allows the criminals to use their "dirty money" without fear of detection or prosecution.

Closely linked to money laundering is terrorism financing (TF). In terrorism financing, funds may originate from legitimate or criminal sources. However, the techniques used to conceal the sources and uses of the terrorists' funds are similar to ML.

Singapore is keenly aware of the significant harm that ML and TF can bring. As a major financial centre in this region, Singapore has put in place measures to ensure that we are not a safe haven for money launderers and terrorism financiers.

Robust AML/CFT legislation
Close Partnership with the business community
Strict enforcement action and ongoing supervision
Active International Cooperation

These measures form Singapore's AML/CFT framework where everyone plays an important role in combating ML and TF and help build and maintain Singapore's strong reputation as a well-regulated major financial centre.

The Financial Investigation Division of CAD is the specialist AML/CFT division in CAD. It enforces the AML/CFT regime through the detection of ML/TF activities, investigation and prosecution of ML/TF offences and in the seizure and confiscation of illegal proceeds.

AML POLICY STATEMENT AND STRATEGIES

Cad’s Anti-Money Laundering Policy Statement And Strategies

Policy Statement

Singapore’s AML/CFT policy objectives are to: i) detect, deter and prevent money laundering, associated predicate offences and terrorism financing; and ii) protect the integrity of its financial system from illegal activities and illicit fund flows.

Overarching Strategy

To adequately focus on money laundering investigations in Singapore, regardless whether the money laundering offence arose from a domestic or foreign predicate offence.

To deprive criminals of the proceeds and instrumentalities of their crimes (both domestic and foreign), or of property of an equivalent value.

Strategy 1: Ensure that money laundering is pursued in all appropriate cases, including those arising from foreign predicate offences

Case Proforma to be completed by the investigator and counterchecked by both his supervisor and the Attorney-General’s Chambers. Audits to be conducted by CAD for compliance within the Singapore Police Force.
Formalise and update Standard Operating Procedures with other law enforcement agencies and competent authorities, for money laundering cases to be referred to CAD.
Review all incoming formal or informal foreign request for assistance for possible money laundering offences committed in Singapore.
Right-sizing of resources for investigations.

Strategy 2: Promote effective international cooperation

Proactively engage foreign counterparts, especially counterparts from higher risk jurisdictions, whenever suspected ML is detected in Singapore arising from foreign predicate offences.
Conduct parallel/joint investigations with foreign counterparts, on the basis of confidentiality and reciprocity, where appropriate.
Share information with foreign counterpart in the context of a parallel/joint investigation.

Strategy 3: Asset Confiscation as a Desired Outcome

Conduct parallel financial investigations for cases with criminal proceeds generated.
Seize criminal proceeds at the earliest opportunity to prevent dissipation.
Streamline workflows to ensure fast response in cases where suspected tainted assets are still in Singapore.
Strengthen strategic partnerships especially with financial institutions on asset seizures.

Strategy 4: Address ML risks identified in NRA

Proactively engage the regulators for the higher risk sectors.
Update AML/CFT Steering Committee and relevant agencies whenever new ML trends/threats are detected.
Proportionality principle in mitigating risks for Medium or Low Risk areas.

Strategy 5: Strengthen collaboration with STRO

Work with STRO to develop “red flag indicators” to the reporting entities to assist them to detect suspicious transactions.
Work with STRO’s liaison officers to fine-tune referral criteria.
To support STRO in outreach efforts; to provide the public with case studies on STRs that led to the detection of ML and investigation outcomes.

Strategy 6: Attention to emerging trends/Reduce “unknown unknowns”

To acknowledge that risks are dynamic, may change from time to time, and that even with best efforts we cannot know everything there is to know about the ML risk in Singapore.
Continue sending quality spontaneous exchanges of information to detect crime, especially ML in Singapore.
Proactively engage foreign counterparts for their perception of ML risks in Singapore vis-à-vis their respective home countries. To discuss and seriously consider these risks even if the risk in the latest NRA is assessed as low. To explore ways to detect ML cases in situations where there are few ML cases in a particular area/crime category.
Scan international/media reports to find out others’ perception of risks and pursue the cases, if sufficient details are provided.

Anti-Money Laundering/Counter-Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT)

OVERVIEW OF SINGAPORE'S ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING/COUNTER-FINANCING OF TERRORISM (AML/CFT) FRAMEWORK

AML POLICY STATEMENT AND STRATEGIES

Cad’s Anti-Money Laundering Policy Statement And Strategies

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