Mutual Evaluation of Singapore

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Mutual Evaluation of Singapore

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MER Singapore.pdf
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Mutual Evaluation of Singapore

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has completed an assessment of the implementation of anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing (AML/CFT) standards in Singapore. Among its major findings were:

  • Singapore’s money laundering offences are broad and cover the conversion or transfer, concealment or disguise, possession and acquisition of property in a manner that is largely consistent with the 1988 United Nations. There is one minor technical deficiency in relation to the third-party laundering offences, and there are concerns that the money laundering offence is not being implemented effectively. However, there has been a recent increase in money laundering prosecutions and convictions. Terrorist financing offences are generally broad. 
  • Police powers to seek and obtain evidence are comprehensive. Confiscation provisions are comprehensive as ancillary to criminal prosecutions. The basic provisions to prevent financial institutions and other persons from dealing with terrorist-related assets are broad.
  • The Suspicious Transaction Reporting Office (STRO) is Singapore’s financial intelligence unit, and is generally well structured, staffed, and funded. However, STRO is encouraged to more strongly focus on the identification of money laundering from foreign predicate offences.
  • The obligations on financial institutions to prevent money laundering and terrorist financing are contained in AML/CFT Notices issued by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and generally covered the full range of measures required by the FATF Recommendations. In particular, customer due diligence requirements are very broad and are effectively implemented by Singaporean financial institutions.
  • MAS uses a risk-based approach to financial supervision, and has a broad range of powers to monitor and ensure that financial institutions comply with AML/CFT measures, including powers of off-site surveillance, auditing and on-site visits and inspections.
  • Overall, Singapore has a comprehensive regime to provide international co-operation.  The amendments to Singapore’s Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Act (MACMA) provide that such assistance no longer requires a treaty.  STRO also engages in effective cooperation with foreign counterparts.

     

     

    This mutual evaluation was conducted using the FATF Recommendations as published in October 2004, and the 2004 Methodology for Assessing Compliance with the FATF 40 Recommendations and FATF 9 Special Recommendations.