News and Articles

Lessons for the Legal Sector from Singapore’s S$3 Billion Money Laundering Case Involving Property Purchases

A recent Singapore case involving a conveyancing lawyer charged with forgery over a property purchase is a sharp reminder that Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) risk does not stop at banks and financial institutions. For the...

Ultimate Beneficial Ownership (UBO) Verification Failures: Lessons from Recent Hong Kong Enforcement Cases

What Is UBO Transparency and Why Does It Matter? An Ultimate Beneficial Owner (UBO) is the natural person who ultimately owns or controls a corporate entity, whether through direct shareholding, indirect control, or nominee arrangements. Under Hong Kong’s Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist...

AML/CFT Case Study: Money Laundering Through Gold Bars and Trade – Vulnerabilities and Risk Mitigation for DNFBPs

In a recent landmark case, Singapore authorities sentenced South Korean national Kim Taek Hoon to 5 years’ imprisonment for orchestrating a sophisticated money laundering operation involving over SG$1.55 billion (approximately USD1.15 billion) in illicit funds. Between 2014 and 2017, Kim...

AMLCFT Framework for Nominee Directors and Corporate Service Providers

Singapore’s New AML/CFT Sentencing Framework for Nominee Directors: Implications for Corporate Service Providers

A recent landmark ruling by the Singapore High Court has sent a strong message to corporate service providers (CSPs), particularly those offering nominee director services. The court has established a stiffer sentencing framework for “silent” company directors who fail to...

Understanding Trade-Based Money Laundering (TBML): Techniques, Case Study, Red Flags and Best Practices for Risk Mitigation

Trade-Based Money Laundering (TBML) is one of the most prevalent money laundering methods encountered by professional firms in the Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Professions (DNFBP) sectors. This method primarily involves exploiting the vast volume of global trade and the complexities...

Lessons from the Singapore’s S$3 Billion Fujian Gang Money Laundering Case: A Wake-Up Call for Corporate Service Providers

In 2023, Singaporean authorities uncovered a scheme that allegedly facilitated the money laundering of billions of dollars through various businesses, including gambling and online gaming platforms. The operation was characterized by its sophisticated methods, utilizing shell companies and complex financial...