Suspicious transaction reports triple to 1,588 in FY2015/16

KATHMANDU, April 19: The number of suspicious transaction reports (STRs) by various bank and financial institutions, insurance companies and securities companies, among other entities that deals with cash transactions, more than tripled in the last fiscal year.

This indicating that more suspicious transactions or attempted transactions related to money laundering, terrorist financing or other illegal activities are coming under regulatory radar in recent years.

According to the annual report of the Financial Information Unit (FIU) under the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) for Fiscal Year 2015/16, the unit received altogether 1,588 reports of suspicious transactions in last fiscal year, up from 517 reports of similar nature of transactions in FY2014/15.

Data compiled by the FIU -- a financial intelligence unit under the central bank that acts independently in analyzing and disseminating financial information and intelligence on money laundering and terrorist financing activities to other enforcement agencies -- shows that the number of STRs are on a rise.

The unit had received 517 STRs in FY2014/15, compared to 425 such reports a year earlier.

However, intelligence officials say that all these reports necessarily do not imply that these transactions are generated from money laundering or illegal activities.

According to the officials, these reports are first analyzed by the FIU and then disseminated to enforcement agencies like Department of Anti Money Laundering, Nepal Police, Department of Revenue Investigation and foreign FIUs for investigation and prosecution if the unit’s analysis concludes that such reports have a reasonable grounds to suspect that the money or asset is generated from money laundering, terrorist financing or other illegal means.

The unit forwarded 138 reports out of the total suspected transactions to various domestic enforcement agencies in the last fiscal year. While the number of possible money laundering cases is very low compared to STRs received by the FIU, data collected over the past few years shows that the intelligence officials have been finding more cases where financial system has been abused for money laundering and other illicit transactions.

The unit had forwarded 133 cases to law enforcement agencies in FY2014/15. It has postponed the analysis of 868 cases in FY2015/16, according to the data.

All  BFIs,  money -changers   and   remitters, cooperatives,  insurance  companies, and securities  business  persons, and  Designated Non Financial Business and Professions  like dealers  of  precious  stones  and  metals,  casinos,  independent  accountants  and  legal professional,  notary public, trust and company service providers,  designated government agencies such as the Office of the Company Registrar, Land Revenue Offices and Department of Customs, among others, are legally obliged to report suspicious transactions to the FIU.

Rishikesh Bhatta, chief of the FIU, told Republica that the number of suspicious transaction reports is increasing as reporting entities are becoming more sensitive toward suspicious transactions. “Reporting entities are becoming more aware and cautious in reporting suspicious transactions. However, many such reports lack quality and reasonable grounds, and hence cannot be forwarded to enforcement agencies,” he added.

 
• suspicious transaction reports
 
• various bank and financial institution
 
• insurances companies
 
• securities companies
 
• cash transactions
 
• tripled
 
• last fiscal year