The Financial Intelligence Unit of Liberia has imposed a fine of L$500,000.00 (five hundred thousand Liberian dollars) on Access Bank Liberia Limited, in keeping with section 3.2 (d)(i) regarding regulation on Suspicious Transaction Reporting for Financial Institutions that are operating in Liberia.
According to an FIU press release, Access Bank Liberia was found to be in breach of section 67.5 (a) of the Financial Intelligence Unit Act of 2012, which mandates reporting entities to file Suspicious Transaction Report (STRs) within three days.
“Also, the regulation on Suspicious Transaction Report Section 2.4 provides no exemption to filing STRs. It was found during an inspection of Access Bank AML/CFT compliance that Access Bank Liberia had not filed Suspicious Transaction Reports (STRs), as discovered by the team and also had not filed any STR from January 2019 to the time of inspection,” the release noted.
The release further mentioned that FIU calls on all reporting entities to take their reporting obligation seriously, as FIU will not hesitate on imposing sanctions that are proportionate and dissuasive to violations.
“Additionally, Access Bank Liberia is also admonished to take corrective action in strengthening its AML/CFT programs as recommended by the FIU, and the bank’s Board of Directors need to increase its oversight on Access Bank’s AML/CFT program,” the release added.
The Financial Intelligence Unit cautioned “hostile” reporting entities, especially in the gaming and insurance sectors, to desist from refusing to comply and creating a non-compliant posture with intimidating remarks to inspectors of the FIU while performing their lawful duties.
“The FIU wants to remind such entities that their actions are not only unlawful and irresponsible, but reckless and their days of putting on a non-compliance posture is on the rope, as the FIU will go to all length in fearlessly enforcing the laws and providing the necessary administrative actions in keeping with laws.”
The release noted that, where necessary, the FIU shall recommend for criminal prosecution to the Ministry of Justice any violations that contravene the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) regime/laws in Liberia.
Meanwhile, the FIU says it wants to remind entities, whose immediate goal is to contaminate the Liberian financial system for self-enrichment from the proceed of crimes, to rethink, as the FIU, which has the legal obligation to fight money laundering and terrorist financing, will not tolerate business as usual and has no interest to compromise the integrity of Liberia’s financial system.