Financial Crime

The Commission has today issued its report on the thematic review of its licensees’ effectiveness in monitoring and compliance with targeted financial sanctions. The results showed that the sanctions screening systems that firms use are effective. A copy of the thematic review can be found on the Financial Crime Division's Thematic Reviews page. The Commission undertook this work in 2021 having...

The Commission has today updated Appendix I of the Handbook as a result of the FATF's announcement that it has added the United Arab Emirates (“UAE”) to its list of jurisdictions under increased monitoring and has removed Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe remains on Appendix I as it is listed by other relevant external sources. Appendix I lists countries and territories that are identified by relevant external...

This notice is to provide notification that, in light of the war in Ukraine, any application involving individuals, entities or investments connected with Russia is ineligible for consideration through any of the Commission’s fast-track application regimes. The Commission will expect any application to be accompanied by reputable legal advice confirming the individuals and entities involved have...

The Commission is monitoring the situation and has been, through its 2021 thematic work on sanctions screening and other interactions, encouraging firms to prioritise their sanctions monitoring and assessment of sanctions risks. The Commission requests that all firms check whether they maintain any accounts or otherwise have any kind of relationship with the persons referred to in sanctions...

On the 20th day of January 2022, the Commission imposed a discretionary financial penalty of £196,000 on Robert Archibald Gilchrist Sinclair and prohibited him from holding the position of controller,* director, partner, manager, money laundering reporting officer and money laundering compliance officer for a period of 5.6 years. The exemption set out in section 3(1)(g) of the Fiduciaries Law...

The Financial Services Business (Enforcement Powers) (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law, 2020 (“the Enforcement Powers Law”) The Regulation of Fiduciaries, Administration Businesses and Company Directors, etc (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law, 2020 (the “Fiduciaries Law”) The Criminal Justice (Proceeds of Crime) (Financial Services Businesses) (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Regulations, 2007 (“the Regulations”) The...

Further to our news article dated 1 December (click here), the Commission wishes to advise that it will not accept Surrenders and Suspensions from licensees and registrants on Christmas Eve or New Year's Eve without prior arrangement.

Ahead of distributing 2022 annual fees, licensees and registrants who wish to surrender or suspend their licence (or one that they administer) must notify the Commission in good time ahead of the New Year. If the Commission does not give consent to a surrender or a suspension based on the notification requirements set out in the regulations, then licensees or registrants may be liable to pay their...

The Commission plans to increase licence fees paid by firms from 1 January 2022 by 7.6% with the agreement of the Policy & Resources Committee. On 16 July 2021, the Commission published a consultation paper on its 2022 fees containing four main proposals:- an overall fee increase of 10.1% for all sectors; a restructuring of fees for the investment sector; changes arising from the update to most of...