Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697648542693.pdf (Bahamas)
THE COMPLIANCE COMMISSION OF THE BAHAMAS CODES OF PRACTICE FOR ACCOUNTANTS  ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING  COUNTERING TERRORIST FINANCING  COUNTERING PROLIFERATION FINANCING  OTHER IDENTIFIED RISKS THE COMPLIANCE COMMISSION Second Floor Charlotte House Charlotte Street P. O.
Box N-3017 Nassau, BAHAMAS Tel: (242) 397-4198 Fax: (242) 322-6968 E-mail: compliance@bahamas.gov.bs Web address: www.bahamas.gov.bs/compliance Revised – October, 2018 © All rights reserved - The Compliance Commission of The Bahamas © 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountants – All Rights Reserved i EXPLANATORY FOREWORD The Compliance Commission of The Bahamas (the Commission) has powers under section 37 of the Financial Transactions Reporting Act, 2018 (FTRA) to issue Anti-Money Laundering, Countering Terrorism Financing, Countering Proliferation Financing and Other Identified Risks Codes of Practice (the Codes) for financial institutions falling within its supervisory scope.
The Codes are essential in providing guidance as to the obligations, requirements and standards to be complied with and to be observed by Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Professions (DNFBPs) that are deemed financial institutions and supervised by the Commission.

The Codes are to be read in concert with the key legislative laws outlined in Part B ll of this document.
Copies of all Codes of Practice issued by the Commission are available electronically from the Commission’s website at www.bahamas.gov.bs/compliance.

Obligations imposed by the Codes are enforceable in accordance with section 37 (2) of the FTRA and section 8 of the Financial Intelligence (Transactions Reporting) Regulations, 2001 (FI(TR)R) (as amended).

Financial institutions that fail to comply with the requirements of the Codes shall be subject to sanctions.
ALL REFERENCES IN THIS DOCUMENT TO ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING (AML) WILL INCLUDE OBLIGATIONS FOR COUNTERING THE FINANCING OF TERRORISM (CFT), COUNTERING PROLIFERATION FINANCING (CPF) AND OTHER IDENTIFIED RISKS UNLESS THE CONTEXT REQUIRES OTHERWISE.

These Codes of Practice have been issued for the Accounting Profession and updates the original Codes published in 2002 and its subsequent revisions.
Its purpose is to provide licensed public accountants and accounting firms with practical guidance and best practices on how to implement an effective AML compliance and risk-based program in line with relevant legislation.

It also supports the regulatory objective of maintaining the reputation of The Bahamas as a first-class international business centre with zero tolerance for criminal activity.
There are two circumstances in which an accountant may be deemed a financial institution and therefore subject to AML supervision by the Commission, when:-  providing services in the circumstances specified in section 4(e) & 4(f) of the FTRA.

Reference is also made to section 32(2) of the FTRA; and  providing services covered by section 3(1)(h) of the FTRA.
© 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountants – All Rights Reserved ii The Commission also includes in its supervisory scope, all accountants that provide services on behalf of the firm.

Therefore, the terms “accounting firm” or “firm” are used interchangeably with the term “accountant” or “accountants” throughout this document to mean a sole practitioner or a partnership practicing by either of these means.
Unless the context requires otherwise, the masculine terminology used throughout the document includes the feminine gender and the singular terminology includes the plural.

The Commission intends to issue periodic Directives and Guidance Notes to supplement the Codes as changing circumstances dictate.

Finally, the Commission would like to express its gratitude to all those in the profession, representative bodies and stakeholders that contributed to the development of these Codes of Practice.
THE COMPLIANCE COMMISSION OF THE BAHAMAS OCTOBER, 2018 © 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountants – All Rights Reserved iii TABLE OF CONTENTS PART A DEFINITIONS B I BACKGROUND MONEY LAUNDERING, TERRORISM FINANCING, PROLIFERATION FINANCING AND OTHER IDENTIFIED RISKS 1.

Money Laundering 2.

Terrorism Financing 3.

Proliferation & Proliferation Financing 4.

Other Identified Risks 5.

The Global Fight against Money Laundering 6.


National Risk Assessment Summary II THE LEGISLATIVE AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORK FOR AML IN THE BAHAMAS 7.

The Legislative Framework 8.

The Regulatory Framework 9.

The Bahamas National Identified Risk Framework III THE ACCOUNTANT AS A FINANCIAL INSTITUTION 10.

When is an Accountant a Financial Institution?

11.

Vulnerabilities of the Accountants IV SUPERVISORY FRAMEWORK OF THE COMMISSION 12.
The Commission ………………………………………………………………………  Establishment of the Commission ………………………………………….

 Functions of the Commission ……………………………………………….

 Powers of the Commission ………………………………………………….

 Supervision by the Commission …………………………………………… 13.

Registration of Accountants 14.

Commission Awareness and Training Programmes for Accountants 15.

Beneficial Ownership 16.


Fit & Proper Tests PAGE 5 11 12 12 13 14 14 15 16 18 18 18 19 21 21 23 25 25 25 25 25 26 26 27 28 29 © 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 1 17.

Risk-Based Examination Process  On-site …………………………………………………………………….

 Off-site …………………………………………………………………….


 Types of Examination …………………………………………………… o Routine …………………………………………………………… o Follow-up ………………………………………………………… o Random ………………………………………………………….. o Special …………………………………………………………… C V INTERNAL AML PROCEDURES PERIODIC INTERNAL REVIEW OF AML SYSTEMS 18.

Internal Compliance Reviews  Information Technology (IT) Infrastructure VI RISK- BASED FRAMEWORK 19.
Obligations under the Law to Developing a Risk-Based Framework Overview of Five Stages of a ML/TF Risk Assessment Process  Risk Identification  Risk Analysis  Risk Matrix  Risk Management/Control & Mitigation  Risk Monitoring and Review VII CLIENT IDENTIFICATION/VERIFICATION (KYC) PROCEDURES 20.

Verification details and documentary evidence procedures  When must identification and verification take place?
 Verification of identity of Individuals  Verification of corporate entity  Verification of identity of partnership and unincorporated business  Verification of trust and other legal arrangement  Exemption from verification  Verification of beneficial owner  Verification of facilities established by telephone or internet  Continued verification of accounts  Verification of facilities/accounts for intermediaries  Transfer of records  Failure to satisfactorily complete customer due diligence © 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 2 21.
Simplified Due Diligence  What is Simplified Due Diligence?

 When must Simplified Due Diligence be carried out?

 Standard Customer Due Diligence 22.

Enhanced Due Diligence  What is Enhanced Due Diligence?

 When must Enhanced Due Diligence be carried out?

 Politically Exposed Person (PEP)  Enhanced Due Diligence for Higher Risk Clients  Enhanced Due Diligence for Higher Risk Countries 23.

Reliance on Due Diligence of Third Party (or Eligible) Introducers 24.

Monitoring of Facilities 25.


Outsourcing of Material Functions VIII INFORMATION SHARING 26.

Group Level Information Sharing IX COMBATING THE FINANCING OF TERRORISM & PROLIFERATION 27.

 Targeted Financial Sanctions related to Terrorism and Terrorist Financing  Targeted Financial Sanctions related to Proliferation X RECORD KEEPING PROCEDURES 28.
Statutory requirements to maintain records  Format of records  Identification/verification (KYC) records  Transaction records  When records need not be kept 61 61 61 63 63 63 63 64 64 66 66 70 71 72 72 73 73 74 74 o Special considerations for record keeping retention on the liquidation of a financial institution.

 Mandatory destruction of records XI PROCEDURES FOR THE RECOGNITION AND REPORTING OF SUSPICIOUS 77 TRANSACTIONS 29.
The Financial Intelligence Unit (the FIU)  Mandatory requirement to appoint a Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO)  The Role of the MLRO  Mandatory requirement to appoint a Compliance Officer 77 77 78 79 © 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 3  Recognition of suspicious transactions  Internal reporting of suspicious transactions  Procedure for reporting suspicious transactions  Feedback from the FIU  Tipping Off XII STAFF RECRUITMENT, EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROCEDURES 30.
Know Your Employee (KYE) Procedures 31.

Staff Awareness Programmes 32.

Staff Education and Training Programmes  New employees  Frontline staff that deal directly with the public for the purpose of receiving and making payments, deposits etc.
such as cashiers/ accounts officers  Administration/operations supervisors and managers  MLROs/Compliance Officers APPENDICES Summary of Existing AML/CFT Laws of The Bahamas Registration Form R.1 Matrices of Money Laundering Offences under POCA, FTRA, FI(TR)R and ATA Sample STR to FIU Accountants Typologies References A B C D E F FIGURES 1.

Regulatory Structure for AML in The Bahamas 2.

Graphic illustration of Ministerial Council 3.


Graphic illustration of Accounting firm’s Obligations under AML Laws 4.

Overview of ML/TF Risk Assessment Process 5.

6.

Risk Analysis (Likelihood & Impact) The Level of Susceptibility to ML/TF Risk 7.

What is structuring?


79 80 81 82 83 84 84 85 85 PAGE 88 90 93 104 110 112 PAGE 19 20 23 45 48 50 54 © 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 4 A. DEFINITIONS “Accountant”, “Accounting”, means a public accountant in his capacity as a financial institution, “Firm”, or “Firms” pursuant to sections 3(1)(h) & 4(e)(f) of the FTRA i.e., when providing prescribed financial services in accordance with the FTRA, unless the context requires otherwise.
“AML” means Anti-Money Laundering.

(All references in this document to AML will include obligations for Countering the Financing of Terrorism (CFT), Countering Proliferation Financing (CPF) and Other Identified Risks unless the context requires otherwise).

“AML/CFT” means Anti-Money Laundering / Countering the Financing of Terrorism (also used for Combatting the Financing of Terrorism).
“AML Laws” means The Proceeds of Crime Act, 2018, The Financial Transactions Reporting Act, 2018, The Financial Intelligence Unit Act, 2000 (as amended) the Anti-Terrorism Act, 2018, Financial Transactions Reporting (Wire Transfers) Regulation, 2018 and all Regulations, Guidelines, Codes and other subordinate instruments made under these Acts.

For a complete list of the legislation and citations see Appendix A.
“ATA” “BICA” means the Anti-Terrorism Act, 2018. means the Bahamas Institute of Chartered Accountants.
“Beneficial owner” means: (a) the natural person(s) who ultimately owns or controls a facility holder; (b) the natural person on whose behalf a transaction is being conducted; (c) a natural person who exercises ultimate effective control over a legal person or legal arrangement; and (d) where no natural person is identified under subparagraphs (a), (b) or (c) above, the identity of the natural person who holds the position of senior managing official.
“Cash” means notes and coins in any currency and includes, postal money orders, travelers’ cheques, bankers’ drafts, bearer-type negotiable © 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 5 “CFATF” “CFT” instruments, virtual currency.

means the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force.

means Combating the Financing of Terrorism (also used for Countering the Finance of Terrorism).

“CO” means Compliance Officer.


“Commission” means the Compliance Commission of The Bahamas, established under section 39 of the FTRA (Ch.

368) and continued under section 31 of the new FTRA, 2018.
“Constituents” means the financial institutions and designated non-financial businesses and professions identified in sections 3 & 4 of the FTRA in particular, accountants, lawyers, real estate brokers and land developers, designated government agencies, jewelers dealing in precious metals and precious stones for which the Commission has AML supervisory responsibility.
“CDD” or “Customer due means that part of the KYC process where information that comprises diligence” facts about a client is gathered by the accountant/firm to assess the extent to which the client exposes the accountant/firm to a range of risks.

“Designated entities” means individuals or entities and their associates designated as terrorist entities by the Security Council of United Nations.
The National Identified Risk Framework Coordinator shall be responsible for maintaining a list of designated entities, among other things.

“DNFBP” means a designated non-financial businesses and professionals in accordance with Recommendation 28 of the FATF 40 Recommendations and section 4 of the FTRA.
“Eligible Introducer” means: - (1) any other Bahamian financial institution under section 3 & 4 of the FTRA; or (2) any foreign financial institution from a reputable jurisdiction who themselves are supervised or monitored for AML that is regulated by a body having equivalent regulatory and supervisory responsibilities as the Central Bank, the Securities Commission, the Insurance Commission, the Inspector of Financial and Corporate Services and the Gaming Board; or (3) any other foreign financial institution from a jurisdiction outside © 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 6 of The Bahamas as having an equivalent or higher AML regulatory framework to that which exists under Bahamian law and which is also regulated by a body having equivalent regulatory and supervisory responsibilities as the Central Bank, the Securities Commission, the Insurance Commission, the Inspector of Financial and Corporate Services or the Gaming Board.
“FATF” “Facility” means the Financial Action Task Force.

means:- (a) an account or arrangement that is provided by a financial institution to a client and by, through or with which the client may conduct two or more transactions whether or not they are so used; and (b) without limiting the generality of the foregoing, includes a life insurance policy; an annuity; and the provision, by a financial institution, of a facility for the safe custody, including a safety deposit box.
“Facility holder” means:- (a) the person in whose name the facility is established and without limiting the generality of any person to whom the facility is assigned; (b) where the person referred to (a) above is a mere nominee, the ultimate natural who is the beneficial owner, settlor, or beneficiary; (c) any person who is authorized to issue instructions in relation to how transactions should be conducted through a facility provided by the accountant; and (d) when a person is first able to use the facility to conduct transactions.
“FCSP” means a financial and corporate service provider licensed under the Financial and Corporate Service Providers Act.

“Financial institution” means a person or entity described in section 3(1)(h) & section 4(e) & (f) of the FTRA who or which provides prescribed financial services and on which, have been imposed, AML obligations pursuant to the AML laws.

“FI(TR)R” means the Financial Intelligence (Transactions Reporting) Regulations, “FIU” means the Financial Intelligence Unit.

2001.
© 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 7 “FIUA” “FTRA” “FTRR” “Funds” means the Financial Intelligence Unit Act, 2000. means the Financial Transactions Reporting Act, 2018. means the Financial Transactions Reporting Regulations, 2018. means any assets or property of any kind, however acquired, including but not limited to currency, bank credits, deposits and other financial resources, travelers’ cheques, bank cheques, money orders, promissory notes, shares, non-shareholding interests, securities, bonds, drafts, and letters of credit (Refer to FTRA definition on funds for more details).
“Identified Risks” means corruption, cybercrime, human trafficking, money laundering, proliferation or financing of weapons of mass destruction, terrorism or financing of terrorism or such other risk as the Minister may prescribe by regulations.

“Inherent Risks” means the vulnerabilities within the firm (for example, the customer base, an activity, or industry) that is susceptible to exploitation to launder proceeds of crime or to fund terrorism.
“International organization” means an entity established by formal political agreements between member countries that have the status of international treaties, whose existence is recognized by law in member countries and which is not treated as a resident institutional unit of the country in which it is located.
“KYC” or “Know your means the process that allows accountants to know and understand their client/customer” clients thereby ensuring that they are doing business legally with legitimate entities and individuals before and during the relationship.

The combination of the Customer Identification Process (CIP) and the Customer/Enhanced Due Diligence (C/EDD) constitutes the KYC “ML” “ML/TF” “MLRO” “NRA” process.

means Money Laundering.

means Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing.


means Money Laundering Reporting Officer.

means National Risk Assessment is the process by which a country Identifies and assesses the ML/TF risks for the country.

“Occasional transaction” means a one-off transaction or linked transactions that are carried out by a person otherwise than through a facility in respect of which that person is a facility holder.
An example of this may be where someone purports to © 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 8 pay a sum in cash over $15,000 to the firm for the benefit of a facility “para.” means paragraph.

holder of that firm.

“PEPs” or “Politically means:- an individual who is or has been entrusted:- exposed persons” (a) with a domestic prominent public function, inclusive of a head of state or government.
legislator, politician, senior government, judicial or military official, senior executive of a state-owned corporation, or important political party official; (b) with a prominent public function by a foreign jurisdiction, inclusive of a head of state or government, legislator, senior politician, senior government, judicial or military official, senior executive of a state-owned corporation, or senior political party official; and (c) with senior position at an international organization or branch thereof, domestic or foreign, and includes a family member or close associate of a politically exposed person.
“Prescribed financial means those services defined in sections 3 (h) & 4(e) & (f) of the FTRA services” which make a person or entity, in relation to those services, a financial institution for AML purposes.

Please refer to the above sections of the FTRA to review the various services.

“POCA” means the Proceed of Crime Act, 2018.

“Proliferation” means the transfer and export of nuclear, chemical or biological weapons; their means of delivery and related materials.
This could include, inter alia, technology, goods, software, services or expertise.

“PF” or “Proliferation means providing funds or financial services for the transfer and export of Financing” nuclear, chemical or biological weapons; their means of delivery and related materials.

“Risk” All references to risk refer to the risk of money laundering and/or terrorist “RBA” “SAR” “STR” “TF” financing.

means Risk-Based Approach.

means Suspicious Activity Report (used interchangeably with STR).
means a suspicious transaction report.

means terrorism financing - the financing of terrorist acts, and of terrorists © 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 9 and terrorist organizations.

“Transaction” means any deposit, withdrawal, exchange or transfer of funds in cash, by cheque, payment order or other instrument, and includes electronic transmissions of funds.
“Transfer” means buying or otherwise acquiring or agreeing to do so, seeking, selling or otherwise disposing or agreeing with another to do so or making “UN” “UNSCR” such arrangements.

means United Nations.

means the United Nations Security Council Resolution(s).

“WMD” or “Weapons of mass means a nuclear, biological, or chemical weapons able to cause destruction” widespread devastation and loss of life.

Note: Some definitions are drawn from the FATF Recommendations.
© 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 10 B.

BACKGROUND Part B of this document describes the fundamental aspects of money laundering, terrorist financing, proliferation financing, other identified risks and provides some general introductory remarks on the international and regional organizations involved in the global fight against money laundering, terrorist financing and proliferation financing.
Brief comments are also given on the obligations placed on countries, in an effort to comply with international best practices and to ensure the effectiveness of a country’s AML/CFT compliance regime.
The establishment of a National ML/TF Identified Risk Framework (NIRF) is central to the identification of money laundering and terrorist financing methods across the jurisdiction and to determine how often those methods are used, how effective they are in moving illicit funds and whether there are gaps in the AML/CFT systems and controls.

The legislative and regulatory frameworks for AML in The Bahamas have also been outlined for general reference.
Part B also explains the circumstances in which an accountant, by law, is deemed to be a financial institution along with citing their vulnerabilities; the supervisory framework of the Commission, inclusive of the mandatory registration procedure for all accountants; the transparency of beneficial ownership of legal persons and legal arrangements; the characteristics of the fit and proper test for sound supervisory practices and the risk-based examination process.
Part C of this document highlights the requirements for periodic internal review of AML/CFT systems; the importance of upgrading technological systems, as well as covers the guidelines and procedures for conducting a risk assessment; client identification and verification (KYC); information sharing; targeted financial sanctions; record keeping; reporting of suspicious transactions; and the Commission’s awareness, educational and training programmes.
© 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 11 1.

MONEY LAUNDERING, TERRORISM FINANCING, PROLIFERATION FINANCING AND OTHER IDENTIFIED RISKS 1 1.1 MONEY LAUNDERING Money laundering is the process by which criminals attempt to conceal the true origin and ownership of the proceeds of their criminal activities.

Its purpose is to allow them to maintain control over those proceeds and, ultimately, provide a legitimate cover for the source of their income.
1.2 There is no one single method of laundering money.

Methods range from the purchase and resale of real property and luxury items (e.g., cars or jewelry) to passing money through a complex international web of legitimate businesses and “shell” companies.

Initially, however, in the case of drug trafficking and some other serious crimes, the proceeds usually take the form of cash, which needs to enter the financial system by some means.
1.3 Despite the variety of methods employed, the laundering process is accomplished in three stages, which may comprise numerous transactions, and which could alert a financial institution to criminal activity: These stages are: (1) placement, which is the physical disposal of cash proceeds derived from illegal activity; (2) layering, which involves the separation of illicit proceeds from their source by creating complex layers of financial transactions designed to disguise the audit trail and provide anonymity; and (3) integration, which is the provision of apparent legitimacy to criminally derived wealth.
If the layering process has succeeded, integration schemes place the laundered proceeds back into the economy in such a way that they re-enter the financial system appearing as normal business funds.

1.4 The three basic steps may occur at separate and distinct phases; they may occur simultaneously or more commonly, they may overlap.

How the basic steps are used depend on the available laundering mechanisms.

© 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 12 2.
TERRORISM FINANCING 2.1 Unlike money laundering, which focuses on the origin of the funds in question, terrorism financing looks at the destination of the funds, which may in fact originate from a legitimate source.
2.2 Terrorism financing is the method by which “directly or indirectly, unlawfully and willfully, persons provide or collect funds with the intention that the funds should be used or in the knowledge that the funds are to be used, in full or in part, in order to carry out: (a) an act which constitutes an offence within the scope of and as defined in one of the treaties listed in the Schedule to the ATA1; or (b) any other act intended to cause death or serious bodily injuries to a civilian or to any other person not taking an active part in the hostilities in a situation of armed conflict, when the purpose of such act, by its nature or context, is to intimidate a population, or to compel a government or an international organization to do or to refrain from doing any act.”2 2.3 The United Nations (UN) sanctions regime initiated under UNSCR 12673 and 13734 has produced a list of designated persons/countries with known or suspected terrorist connections.
The Resolutions require countries to freeze, without delay, the funds or other assets and to ensure that no funds or other assets are made available, directly or indirectly, to or for the benefit of any person or entity designated by or under the authority of the UNSC.

This list is updated periodically and is forwarded to the UN’s contact in each jurisdiction.
The NIRF Coordinator shall be responsible for maintaining a list of designated entities as provided by the UN; ensuring that the list remains current; circulating the list without delay upon receipt to financial institutions; requesting information on whether any designated entity on the list has funds in The Bahamas; and maintaining a consolidated list of all orders issued by the court and circulating the same to all financial institutions.
Further, the FIU shall be responsible for furnishing the Attorney General with the information required to facilitate an application under section 45 of the ATA where anyone, as designated on the list, has funds in The Bahamas.

Accountants/Firms should refer to section 44 of the ATA for specific details regarding the reporting obligation in accordance with the law.

1 See Appendix C, part 3(b).

2 UN 1999 International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism.
3 www.un.org/sc/committees/1267/sgreports.shtml 4 www.un.org/en/sc/ctc/resources/1373.html © 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 13 3 3.1 PROLIFERATION & PROLIFERATION FINANCING Proliferation financing is providing funds or financial services for the transfer and export of nuclear, chemical or biological weapons; their means of delivery and related materials.
It involves, in particular, the financing of trade in proliferation sensitive goods, but could also include other financial support to individuals or entities engaged in proliferation.

3.2 Countries, entities and terrorists, seeking to develop weapons of mass destruction (WMD), often try to conceal the fact that the goods, technology and knowledge being procured are intended for the production of weapons.
3.3 The United Nations (UN) under UNSCRs on WMD has also produced a list of designated persons, countries and entities known or suspected in connection with WMD.

The Resolutions require countries to freeze without delay, the funds or other assets, and to ensure that no funds or other assets are made available, directly or indirectly, to or for the benefit of any person or entity designated by, or under the authority of the UNSC.
This list is updated periodically and forwarded to the UN’s contact in each jurisdiction.

Refer to 2.3 above for details regarding how the UN’s designated “watchlist” is disseminated to the regulated entities.

3.4 The objectives of UNSCRs on proliferation of WMD concerning persons and entities designated is to ensure they are identified, deprived of economic resources and prevented from raising, moving and using funds or other assets for the financing or proliferation.
3.5 The Accountant/Firm should immediately report to the Commission or relevant competent authorities any assets frozen or actions taken in compliance with the prohibition requirements of the relevant UNSCRs, including attempted transactions.

See section IX below on targeted financial sanctions for proliferation.
3.6 The Accountant/Firm must ensure facility holder(s) are not from a nation that is subject to sanctions by the UN or similar prohibition from any other official body that would prohibit the establishment of a facility or conduct a transaction.

4 4.1 OTHER IDENTIFIED RISKS In addition to the above-mentioned predicate offences, other identified risks may include corruption, cyber-crime and human trafficking as outlined in POCA.
Corruption refers to any criminal conduct related to bribery, extortion, or misconduct in public office committed by or on behalf of a public officer.

Cyber-crime poses a very significant risk to individuals and organizations as it involves the compromise of computer systems such as internet, © 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 14 emails, ransomware and mobile devices etc.
Other forms of cyber-crime include hacking, phishing, denial of service attacks, creating and distributing malware, unauthorized data access, corruption, deletion and interception of data and false advertising of products and services on victims’ computers.

It is worth noting that cyber criminals are constantly working to find innovative and effective means to steal information, data and ultimately money by any means possible.
Therefore, an updated computer system and software to safeguard against these types of unauthorized access as well as awareness of online criminal threats and techniques are the best mitigation strategies.

Human trafficking means trafficking in persons as defined in the Trafficking in Persons (Prevention and Suppression) Act (Ch.

106).
106).

According to the FATF report on financial flows from human trafficking published July, 2018, it states that human trafficking is estimated to be one of the most profitable proceeds generating crime in the world, with the International Labour Organization estimating that forced labour generates US$150.2 billion per year.

It is also stated that human trafficking is one of the fastest growing forms of international crimes.

5.
5.

5.1 THE GLOBAL FIGHT AGAINST MONEY LAUNDERING The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) 5.1.1.

The FATF was founded by the Governments of the G7 leading industrialized nations in 1989.

The FATF is the international standard setting body for addressing money laundering and terrorist financing.

As an inter-governmental body, it develops and promotes global standards and policies, to combat money laundering.
Further information on the FATF can be found at www.fatf-gafi.org 5.1.2 The FATF has developed forty (40) Recommendations (Recommendations) to address money laundering and combat terrorist financing, as well as the financing of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

The Recommendations set out a comprehensive and consistent framework of measures for AML/CFT and PF initiatives and are designed for universal application.
They provide a complete set of counter-measures against money laundering, terrorist financing and proliferation financing covering the criminal justice system and law enforcement, the financial system and its regulation, and international co- operation.

5.1.3 Recommendations 22 and 23 require countries to establish an AML supervisory framework to regulate designated non-financial businesses and professions (DNFBPs).
Under Recommendation 22 (d) and (e), as well as 23 (a) and (c) accountants have been identified as DNFBPs where they offer certain prescribed financial services.

© 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 15 5.1.4 Under Bahamian law the implementation of Recommendations 22 and 23 have been implemented through section 3 (1) (h) & 4 (f) of the FTRA.
5.1.5 The FATF has also promoted the concept of regional organizations in line with its own structure, whose goals would be to raise awareness of money laundering and terrorism financing and introduce regional evaluation programmes to monitor the implementation and effectiveness of the Recommendations, amongst other things.

One such organization is the CFATA as outlined below.
5.2 The Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) 5.2.1 The CFATF is an inter-governmental task force, organized as part of the efforts of the FATF to establish regional style bodies patterned after the FATF.

The CFATF came into existence as a result of three regional meetings of Governments in 1990, 1992 and 1993.
The main objective of the CFATF is to achieve effective implementation of, and compliance with the FATF recommendations to prevent and control money laundering and to combat the financing of terrorism.

5.2.2 At the 1992 meeting the Kingston Declaration called for the establishment of a Regional Secretariat.

The Secretariat was established during early 1994, in Trinidad and Tobago, and funded by the FATF donor countries.

The Chair of CFATF is rotated annually amongst its members.
Further information on the CFATF and its work can be viewed on its website at www.cfatf@cfatf.org 5.2.3 The Bahamas is one of the founding members of CFATF.

The Bahamas’ AML regime is evaluated every four years by CFATF.

The last CFATF Mutual Evaluation (MER) of The Bahamas was conducted December, 2015.

The Report was published in July, 2017.

A copy of the report may be seen at www.cfatf-gafic.org/index.php/documents/mutual-evaluation- reports 6.
NATIONAL RISK ASSESSMENT SUMMARY 6.1 FATF (Recommendation 1) places an obligation on countries to conduct a National Risk Assessment (NRA) to identify, assess and understand its money laundering and terrorist financing (ML/TF) risks.

The purpose of this assessment is to identify any potential gaps or vulnerabilities in the country’s AML regime, which may require the need to amend laws, regulations or policy measures.
The assessment also assists government agencies, law enforcement, intelligence agencies, regulators and financial institutions, in allocating and prioritizing AML resources to mitigate risks.

© 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 16 6.2 The Bahamas conducted its first NRA in 2015/2016.

The review was a joint effort involving all relevant public and private sector organizations.
It required the collection and analysis of ML/TF data to produce a comprehensive report, the results of which are the foundation of the Bahamas’ National AML Strategy.

The results of the NRA are published on the website of each financial services regulator.

6.3 The NRA impacts the operations of all Financial Institutions in The Bahamas.
Financial Institutions are obligated by section 5(1) of the FTRA to conduct a risk assessment for its customers, countries or geographic areas; and products, services, transactions or delivery channels.

The assessment should evaluate the impact of the ML/TF risks identified in the Bahamas’ NRA, and any regulatory guidance issued by its Supervisory Authority, on its business.
6.4 Following the completion of the first NRA in 2015/2016, the Proceeds of Crime Act, 2018 established an Identified Risk Framework Steering Committee which is responsible for conducting all future NRAs in The Bahamas.

More information about this Committee and The Bahamas’ National Identified Risk Framework can be found in Section II of this Code.

© 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 17 II.
THE LEGISLATIVE AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORK FOR AML IN THE BAHAMAS 7 THE LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK 7.1 The substantive laws relating to AML in The Bahamas are contained in:       the Proceeds of Crime Act, 2018; the Financial Transactions Reporting Act, 2018; the Financial Transactions Reporting Regulations, 2018; the Financial Intelligence Unit Act, 2000; the Financial Intelligence (Transactions Reporting) Regulations, 2001; and the Anti-Terrorism Act, 2018.
7.2 A summary overview of the laws can be found in Appendix A.

These laws, as well as others referred to in this Code, can be viewed in full and downloaded from http://laws.bahamas.gov.bs.
7.3 The legislation, which includes all subsequent amendments and subordinate legislative measures sets out procedures which are designed to achieve two purposes: firstly, to enable suspicious transactions to be recognized as such and reported to the authorities; and secondly, to ensure that if a customer comes under investigation in the future, a financial institution can effectively contribute to the audit trail.

8.
8.

8.1 THE REGULATORY FRAMEWORK An organizational chart of the AML regulatory framework, specifically identifying accountants, is found below at Fig.

1.

The Central Bank regulates the banking and trust companies industry; the Securities Commission regulates the securities and investment funds industry; the Insurance Commission regulates the insurance industry; the Inspector of Financial and Corporate Services regulates financial and corporate service providers and the Gaming Board regulates casinos.
The authority for the Commission to supervise the FI/DNFBPs within its remit, including designated accountants, is found in section 33 (1) of the FTRA.

8.2 The Financial Intelligence Unit or FIU is the agency charged with, amongst other things, receiving and analyzing suspicious transactions reports from financial institutions (See paras.

29.1 to 29.1.4) for more details about the FIU).

© 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 18 Fig.
1: Regulatory Framework for AML in The Bahamas MINISTERIAL LEVEL (To view a version of the organizational chart which incorporates the most current ministerial portfolio responsibility for each regulator, please visit the Commission’s website at www.bahamas.gov.bs/compliance) REGULATORS’ LEVEL SECURITIES COMMISSION COMPLIANCE COMMISSION REGISTRAR OF INSURANCE COMPANIES CENTRAL BANK GAMING BOARD  Investment Funds & Securities Industry Financial Intelligence Unit INSPECTOR FINANCIAL & CORPORATE SERVICES  Financial & Corporate Service Providers P  Insurance Industry  Accountants  Lawyers  Real Estate Brokers & Land Developers  Designated Government Agencies  Dealers in Precious Metals, Precious Stones & Pawn Brokers  Banks & Trust Companies  Credit Unions  Money Transmission  Casinos  Gaming Houses Legend AML Regulator Licensing or registration (primary) Regulator 9.
THE BAHAMAS NATIONAL IDENTIFIED RISK FRAMEWORK 9.1 The Bahamas National Identified Risk Framework (NIRF) consists of a Ministerial Council, a National Identified Risk Framework Coordinator and an Identified Risk Framework Steering Committee.

Together they are charged with the responsibility of coordinating actions to assess risks, and apply resources, aimed at ensuring the risks identified are mitigated effectively (See sections 4, 5 & 6 of the Proceeds of Crime Act, 2018.
© 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 19 Fig.2: Below illustrates the Framework of the Ministerial Council MINISTERIAL COUNCIL The Ministerial Council shall be responsible to:   determine an (Interpretation) of the FTRA; and identified risk as defined under section 2 assess and make necessary recommendations from time to time to ensure the effective implementation of the Identified Risk Framework to minimize or eliminate identified risks.
NATIONAL IDENTIFIED RISK FRAMEWORK COORDINATOR IDENTIFIED RISK FRAMEWORK STEERING COMMITTEE The National Identified Risk Framework Coordinator shall be responsible for: The Identified Risk Framework Steering Committee is mandated to: (a) chairing meetings of the Identified Risk Framework Steering Committee as established under section 6 of POCA (hereinafter referred to as the “IRF Steering Committee”); (b) liaising with regulators and maintaining an on-going review of their adherence to the IRF; (c) directing public training on identified risk matters and public outreach; (d) attending technical meetings of the CFATF, FATF and other recognised international agencies; and (e) preparing summary reports of the activities of the IRF Steering Committee.
(a) coordinate a national risk assessment periodically to identify, assess and understand the identified risks and ensure that such assessments are updated and relevant; (b) maintain surveillance of FATF pronouncements regarding country risk application of enhanced due diligence; (c) have regards of reports by FI/DNFBPs of persistent regulatory failures by a jurisdiction or foreign financial institution and to prepare list of such jurisdictions; (d) advise financial institutions of obligations to apply enhanced due diligence to transactions emanating from such named jurisdictions or foreign institutions named by IRFSC and the FATF; (e) coordinate the development, regular review and implementation of national policies and activities designed to mitigate identified risks; (f) collect and analyse statistics and other information from the authorities competent effectiveness of the IRF; assess to (g) coordinate measures identify, assess and to understand the impact of Parts IV,V and VI of the Act; (h) report to the Ministerial Council; and (i) establish appropriate mechanisms to provide information on identified risks to relevant financial institutions, self-regulatory bodies and professional associations.
© 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 20 III.

THE ACCOUNTANT AS A FINANCIAL INSTITUTION 10.

WHEN IS AN ACCOUNTANT A FINANCIAL INSTITUTION?

10.1 Accountants in The Bahamas are subject to the money laundering laws on two levels.

On the first level, all accountants are subject to the provisions of the Proceed of Crime Act (POCA) in common with all citizens and others affected by this Act.
10.1.1 On the second level, all accountants who offer prescribed financial services whether pursuant to section 3(1)(h) & 4(e)(f) of the FTRA, or under a financial and corporate service provider licence are, in addition to being subject to the POCA, also subject to the AML regime contained in the FTRA, the FIUA, all Regulations and Guidelines made pursuant to these Acts and this Code.

When offering prescribed financial services, the accountant is deemed to be a financial institution under the FTRA.
10.1.2 There are three circumstances in which an accountant is deemed to be a financial institution as outlined in Figure 3 below.

For the purposes of this Code sections 3(1)(h) & 4(e)(f) (under the supervision of the Commission), unless otherwise specified, it is only the first two categories of prescribed financial services outlined below that are being dealt with in this document.

10.2 When providing prescribed financial services under sections 3(1)(h) & 4(e)(f) of the FTRA.
10.2.1 An accountant is a financial institution for AML purposes in any situation when he engages in or carries out transactions for a client concerning services outlined in sections 3(1)(h) & 4(e)(f) of the FTRA.

10.2.2 Accountants are encouraged to separate their financial activities from those of the general accounting firms and to maintain separate and distinct records pertaining to the financial activities including separate financial records, (see Fig.

3 below).
3 below).

This separation may occur physically through the maintenance of different filing cabinets or systems.

It can also be achieved, in the case of information stored electronically, by creating separate electronic files for the financial business.

By separating the activities, this will avoid providing access during the on-site examination to files and information with which the Commission is not concerned.
© 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 21 10.3 When acting as a professional trustee or administering or managing funds on behalf of third parties under section 3 (1) (h) of the FTRA other than under a financial and corporate service providers license, which is supervised by the Securities Commission of The Bahamas.
10.3.1 Section 3(1)(h) of the FTRA designates a person whose business consists of: (i) borrowing or lending or investing money; (ii) administer or managing funds on behalf of other persons; (iii) acting as trustee in respect of funds of other persons; (iv) dealing in life insurance and insurance business, which is investment related; (v) providing financial services that involve the transfer or exchange of cash, including (without limitation) services relating to financial leasing, money transmissions, credit cards, debit cards, treasury certificates, bankers draft and other means of payment, financial guarantees, trading for account of others (in money market instruments, foreign exchange, interest and index instruments, transferable securities and futures), participation in securities issues, portfolio management, safekeeping of cash and liquid securities, investment related insurance and money changing; but not including the provision of financial services that consist solely of the provision of financial advice.
10.3.2 A trust settlement is therefore a facility for the purpose of the FTRA, and as such is subject to the same verification, record keeping and suspicious transactions reporting requirements that other facilities are subject to.

Consequently, an accountant acting as a professional trustee is deemed a financial institution for this purpose and must verify the identity of the settlor and beneficiaries before agreeing to be a trustee and having the trust settled.
10.3.3 It should be noted that the provision of professional trust services must be provided either pursuant to a licence from the Central Bank or the Inspector of Financial and Corporate Services.

Those trust services that are licensed by the Central Bank are subject to supervision by that Regulator.

Trust services that are offered professionally under a financial and corporate service licence are subject to AML supervision by the Securities Commission (See Fig.

1 above).
© 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 22 10.4 When providing prescribed financial services as a licensed financial and corporate service provider 10.4.1 Licensed financial and corporate service providers are financial institutions for AML purposes pursuant to the FTRA and subject to supervision by the Inspector of FCSPs where such services involve the licensees facilitating the movement of funds into, through, around and out of, the financial system on behalf of clients.
10.4.2 The business activity that is carried out under a financial and corporate service providers’ licence should also be distinct and separate from the general legal practice as well as the prescribed financial services of the firm under section 3 (1) (h) of the FTRA - See Fig .

3 below.

Fig .

3: Graphic Illustration of an Accounting firm’s Obligations under the AML Laws.
General Accounting Practice Prescribed Financial Services under any one or more of the following: That is all accounting services that are not deemed to be financial services nor subject to a financial and corporate service providers licence.

This aspect of the firm’s work is subject to AML obligations under the POCA.
Section 4(e) & (f) of the FTRA makes an accounting firms a financial institution in respect of those activities, and thereby subject to the FTRA, FTRR, FI(TR)R, and this Code in addition to being subject to POCA..

The prescribed financial services under section 4(e) & (f) are any case in which an in or accountant engages carries out transactions for a respect of sub- client clauses the aforementioned section.
of in to Section 3(1)(h) of the FTRA also firm a makes an accounting financial institution in respect of those activities, and thereby subject the FTRA, FTRR, FI(TR)R, and this Code in addition to being subject to POCA..

The prescribed services financial under section 3(1) (h) are any case in which an accountant whose business consist of the the under sub-clauses aforementioned section.
financial Licensed and provider service corporate activities (as defined in section 4 of the FCSPA) are subject to the requirements of the POCA and the FCSPA.

They are also subject to FTRA, FTRR & FI(TR)R as a financial the FTRA in those cases where their activities facilitating involve movement of funds on behalf of the FCSP clients pursuant licence.

N.B.

It is often the case that the licence is held, not by the firm directly, but by a subsidiary company of the firm.
institution under to (POCA applicable to entire accounting firms including prescribed financial services under sections 3(1)(h) & 4 (e)(f) of FTRA and financial and corporate services activities pursuant to a licence from the Inspector of FCSPs.)
11 VULNERABILITIES OF THE ACCOUNTANTS 11.1 The key risks and vulnerabilities identified by The Bahamas ML/TF National Risk Assessment5 within the accounting sector, for which accountants should observe and seek to mitigate the various operational risks of their businesses are noted below: 5 Reference the Commonwealth of The Bahamas National Money Laundering & Terrorist Financing Risk Assessment Summary 2015/2016 via the Compliance website at www.compliancecommission@bahamas.gov.bs © 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 23  Creation of corporate vehicles or other complex legal arrangements, (e.g.
trusts)- such structures may serve to confuse or disguise the links between the proceeds of a crime and the perpetrator;  Buying or selling of property - property transfers serve as either the cover for transfers of illegal funds (layering stage) or else they represent the final investment of these proceeds after their having passed through the laundering process (Integration stage);  Performing financial transactions- sometimes accountants may carry out various financial operations on behalf of the client, (e.g.
cash deposits or withdrawals on accounts, retail foreign exchange operations, issuing and cashing cheques, purchase and sale of stock, sending and receiving international fund transfers);  Misuse of pooled client accounts, safe custody of client money or assets and introductory services (e.g.
financial institutions);  Advice on the setting up of legal arrangements, which may be used to obscure ownership or real economic purpose (including setting up of trusts, companies or change of name or other complex group structures; and  Terrorist financing risk is low as services provided in the Bahamas are mainly audit, managing liquidations and forensic accounting.
11.2 OTHER VULNERABILITIES ASSOCIATED WITH THE ACCOUNTANT:   Filing of fictitious lawsuits to obtain judgment to legitimize the funds; Execution of financial operations on behalf of customers, like cash deposits or withdrawals, foreign currency exchange operations, sale and purchase of shares, sending and receiving international money transfers; and  Investing in the real estate market on behalf of a client while the purchase and sale prices are not commensurate with the real estate market value.
11.3 As cash is the most common form of money laundering, accountants should be aware that money laundering risks posed by products and services, particularly where there are no direct contact with a client, should also be an area of concern and should be closely monitored with proper procedures in place to mitigate any potential risks.

Please note that the above lists are not exhausted listing.

© 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 24 IV.
SUPERVISORY FRAMEWORK OF THE COMMISSION 12.

12.1 THE COMMISSION The Establishment of the Commission 12.1.1 Section 31(1-3) and section 32 (1-2) of the FTRA establishes the continuation and functions (as noted below) of the Commission as a body corporate for the purpose of ensuring that financial institutions within its constituency (as set out in sections 3 (1)(h) & 4(e) (f) of the FTRA, comply with the provisions of the Act.
Sections 33-37 provides for the registration, powers, confidentiality requirements and other matters relative to the Commission.

The Commission consists of three members appointed by the Governor- General.
12.2 Functions of the Commission 12.2.1 The Commission has a two-fold function, namely:-  to maintain a general review of financial institutions for which it has supervisory responsibility, in relation to the conduct of financial transactions and to ensure compliance with the provisions of the FTRA, the FI(TR)R, POCA and guidelines issued by the FIU; and  whenever the Commission deems such to be necessary, to conduct on-site examinations of the business of its constituent financial institutions for the purpose of ensuring compliance with the provisions of the AML laws and regulations.
The Commission can appoint an auditor, at the expense of the accounting firm, who will conduct such examination and report thereon to the Commission.
12.3 Powers of the Commission 12.3.1 The Commission has powers to:  do all things necessary for the performance of its functions including entering into contracts;  require production of records and the supply of information/explanation; © 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 25  require, at all reasonable times, a financial institution to produce transaction records, verification records and any other records prescribed by Regulations that must be kept under the FTRA;  require financial institutions to provide such information or explanation, as it may reasonably require, for the purpose of enabling the Commission to perform its functions under the FTRA; and  periodically issue Codes of Practice, particularly to provide guidance as to the duties, requirements and standards to be complied with and the procedures (whether as to verification, record-keeping, reporting of suspicious transactions or otherwise) and best practices to be observed by its constituent financial institutions in meeting their obligations under the FTRA and other AML laws.
12.4 Supervision of the Commission 12.4.1 The Commission supervises its constituents, which includes accountants, through a combination of registration, risk assessments, on-site and off-site examinations, follow up processes of all remedial actions, education, training and awareness programmes.

The Commission however, is not obligated to provide training as it is the accounting firms responsibility to meet this obligation.
In addition, periodic directions intended to supplement the Codes are issued when necessary.

12.4.2 The Commission also has an established annual programme of engagements with the representative bodies of the financial institutions that it regulates.

Separate consultative meetings are held during the first quarter of each year with the BICA, amongst other bodies, to review the activities of the previous year and to discuss plans for the ensuing year.
12.4.3 As part of an industry awareness inititative, The Commission also particpates in joint Industry briefings with other regulators on an annual basis or whenever necessary.

13 REGISTRATION OF ACCOUNTANTS WITH THE COMMISSION 13.1 The Commission has implemented a mandatory registration process for Accountants that provide prescribed financial services in accordance with section 32(2) & 33(1) of the FTRA.

The registration process is simple and free of charge.
Mandatory Registration forms are available on-line via the Commission’s website at www.bahamas.gov.bs/compliance.

A sample of the Registration Form R1 is found in Appendix B.

13.2 The purpose of this registration process is to assist the Commission with identifying those © 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 26 Accountants that are actively providing prescribed financial services pursuant to section 3 (1) (h) & 4 (e) (f) of the FTRA.
13.3 Accountants registered with the Commission are required to confirm their status via the Commission’s website by March 31st of each year.

13.4 Accountants registered with the Commission must be a member of BICA in good standing and are required to be of irreproachable conduct.

The Commission is of the view that BICA is constantly monitoring its members with respect to their adherence to law and order and maintaining ethical standards.
Notwithstanding the above, the Commission is at liberty to adopt supplementary measures that it deems necessary to achieve or enhance effective supervision.

13.5 Accountants and Accounting Firms that fail to comply with the provisions of section 33(2) of the FTRA commits an offence and is liable to a penalty of five thousand dollars ($5,000) for each day that the FI remains unregistered.
Further, where a FI fails to notify the Commission as required under section 33(3), the FI commits an offence and is liable to a penalty of five thousand dollars ($5,000) for each failure to notify the Commission.

13.6 N.B.

The Commission does not license or regulate the business activities of the financial institutions for which it has AML supervisory responsibility.

Licensing of these activities, if required by law, is regulated by the statutory authority charged with this responsibility.
In the case of Accountants, the Bahamas Institute of Chartered Accountants is charged with this responsibility.

14.

COMMISSION AWARENESS AND TRAINING PROGRAMMES FOR ACCOUNTANTS 14.1 Though not obligated to do so, The Commission organises annual training programmes for accountants.

In addition, officers of the Commission are available to offer specific training programmes for individual firms upon request.
The annual training provided by the Commission does not preclude the accountant/accounting firms from participating in other forms of training and development in the AML space, independent of what the Commission provides.

In fact, it is encouraged since it is the responsibility of the accountant/firm.
14.2 Accountants may engage in self-directed learning (for example, by subscribing to free subscriptions to publications and newsletters from think tanks and professional bodies or by © 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 27 participating in webinars) as well as attending other independently sponsored and organized forms of training and development initiatives.
14.3 As a tool of supervision, the Commission also convenes a meeting at the beginning of each year with the leaders of the BICA.

The purpose of these meetings is to collaborate and to discuss any AML concerns of the profession, as well as the Commission and to convey the Commission’s strategic plans for the year.
These meetings are extremely beneficial for both parties, in that, the Commission is able to appreciate the concerns in the industry and the profession appreciates that the Commission welcomes dialogue.

The Commission also uses the opportunity to update the profession on any current trends, as well as legislative changes, including those being contemplated, etc.
15 BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP 15.1 The transparency of beneficial ownership of legal persons and legal arrangements is a requirement by statute law and in accordance with FATF standards so as to deter and prevent the misuse of corporate vehicles.6 Accountants and accounting firms are therefore required to put in place adequate measures to: a) prevent legal persons and legal arrangements from being used for criminal purposes; b) make legal persons and arrangements sufficiently transparent; and c) ensure that accurate and up-to-date basic information and beneficial ownership information are available and can be accessed by the Commission in a timely fashion.
15.2 Beneficial owner refers to the natural person(s) who ultimately7 owns or controls a client and/or the natural person on whose behalf a transaction is being conducted.

It also includes a person who exercises ultimate effective control over a legal person or legal arrangement.
15.3 From the firm’s perspective, the term beneficial ownership, when used to refer to beneficial ownership of an account in AML context is conventionally understood as equating to ultimate control over funds in such account, whether through ownership or other means.

A key task is to identify and verify your customers' beneficial ownership arrangements.

It is crucial to 6 Refer to the FATF Recommendations 24 & 25, coupled with their Interpretive Notes.
7 Reference to “ultimately owns or controls” and “ultimate effective control” refer to situations in which ownership/control is exercised through a chain of ownership or by means of control other than direct control.

Definition taken from the Glossary to the FATF Recommendations.
© 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 28 know who the beneficial owner(s) are so that you can make appropriate decisions about the level of money laundering and terrorist financing risk associated with your customer.
16 FIT & PROPER TESTS 16.1 The Commission, via its endorsement of the FATF Standards, in particular recommendation 28.4 (b), requires that accounting firms under its remit to ensure full compliance to fit and proper best practices of its key persons namely, beneficial owners and the individuals involved in the management and control of the firm, as well as those who exercise significant power or discharge significant responsibilities in relation to the day-to-day operations.
16.1.1 The fit and proper assessment is both an initial process undertaken during the registration and a continuous and cumulative process, where factors such as honesty, integrity and reputation; competence and capability; and financial soundness, as well as previous disciplinary records are assessed.

These factors, which are universally accepted, constitute a framework of minimum standards for sound supervisory practices.
However, regulators are free to adopt supplementary measures that they deem necessary to achieve and/or enhance effective supervision in their jurisdiction.

For example, they may assess the ongoing conduct of business, and the history of compliance with all applicable laws, regulations and codes.
16.1.2 The Commission, pursuant to section 37 of the FTRA, has the authority to assess and take all necessary measures to prevent criminals or their associates from being professionally accredited, or holding (or being the beneficial owner of) a significant or controlling interest, or holding a management function within the firm that provides financial services in accordance with sections 3(1)(h) & 4(e)(f) of the FTRA .
16.2 The Commission, during its mandatory registration process of all constituents, pursuant to section 33(1) of the FTRA, will consider universally accepted factors when assessing the fitness and propriety of beneficial owners and individuals involved in the management and control of the firm.

These key factors are outlined in some detail below.

16.2.1 Honesty, Integrity and Reputation – an examination of the person’s character; moral soundness; and ethical compass.
In determining the honesty, integrity and reputation of key persons holding interest in the firm or key managerial positions, the Commission will take into account, among other things, whether the person is absence of criminal convictions in any country which render one unfit to be an accountant; an undischarged bankrupt; disbarment, disqualification as an accountant in any other country or has been convicted, on © 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 29 indictment, of dishonesty, fraud, narcotics and human trafficking, money laundering, terrorist and proliferation financing; other identified risks offences; theft or financial crime within the past ten (10) years.
Older convictions or indictments will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

16.2.2 The Commission will not accept for registration, a firm where persons (i.e., beneficial owners, senior management or individual with significant power or authority) are under the age of twenty-one; legally declared to be of an unsound mind; or who is certified to be suffering from a mental disorder within the meaning of the Mental Health Act; outdated police record or convicted of any of the offenses outlined above.
The Commission will examine each applicant on a case-by-case basis taking into account the seriousness of, and circumstances surrounding the offence, the explanation offered by the convicted person, the relevance of the offence to the proposed role, the passage of time since the offence was committed and evidence of the individual’s rehabilitation.
16.2.3 Competence and Reliability – demonstration through their experience and training that they are suitable to perform, operate and manage the firm’s affairs and possess the educational background, work experience or expertise in the nature of the business being conducted and/or continued professional development in relation to the job functions.

16.2.4 Financial Soundness – an examination of their fiscal responsibility and financial integrity.
In determining the financial soundness of the key person (natural or corporate) the Commission will examine, among other things, whether there are any indicators that the key person will not be able to meet its debts as they become due; subject to any court judgement and/or have financial obligations that have not been satisfied within a reasonable period.
16.2.5 Previous disciplinary record, general compliance history and whether the Commission or any other regulatory authority has imposed a disciplinary sanction or administrative fine on the accountant or accounting firms.

16.3 All individuals with the responsibility for the management and control of the firm and key persons within the firm, including non-accountant who are not subject to the assessment by BICA, must prove to, and assure the Commission that they comply with fit and proper requirements.
For non-accountants, this can be accomplished through the Know Your Employee (KYE) process.

Accountants and accounting firms are hereby made aware that the Commission will take all measures necessary to ensure that fitness, propriety or other qualification tests are adhered to on a continuous basis.

© 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 30 16.4 Failure to adhere to any of the above criteria may lead to the non-registration or de- registration of the firm.
Further, a person who commits an offence of money laundering or any identified risk activity knowingly or un-knowingly, will be liable on summary conviction, to imprisonment pursuant to section 15 of the Proceeds of Crime Act, 2018.

17.

RISK-BASED EXAMINATION PROCESS 17.1 The Commission carries out its supervisory oversight by means of a risk assessment exercise, as well as an onsite and off-site examination programmes.
Firms are required to complete a Risk Assessment Questionnaire issued by the Commission for an initial assessment of the inherent risks to the firm.

The purpose of the risk assessment questionnaire is to gather information on the salient features of the firm’s overall structure, clients (including geographical location and beneficial owners), products and services, tranactions, delivery channels, and oversight and governance.
The outcome of the risk assessment along with the latest on-site examination evaluation, will determine the frequency and intensity of the Commission’s examination program of the firm.

The risk assessment will be followed by an on-site or off-site examination of the firm.

17.1.1 The Commission will not conduct an on-site examination in the absence of the firm’s documented risk-based policies and procedures manual.

17.1.2 Risks, once assessed, are not static – risks may increase or decrease.
Therefore, events which may cause changes to the risk profile of the firm, must, without delay, be communicated to the Commission by the firm.

This allows the Commission to know the signficant activity that is driving the change and to understand the risks of the entity so that the Commission may properly align its resources for monitoring and examination purposes.
17.1.3 The Commission administers four (4) types of examinations, as outlined below:  routine (on-site only);  follow-up (on-site or off-site examination);  random (on-site only); and  special (on-site only).
17.1.4 The most important of these four examinations is the routine examination as it provides an in-depth assessment of the firm’s risk profile, policies and procedures, and tests the adequacy, effectiveness and control measures implemented to mitigate risks by a firm to satisfy its AML obligations.
© 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 31 17.1.5 The examination focuses on procedures and systems to examine the firm’s obligation to comply with AML laws and guidelines.
The Bahamian AML laws and applicable guidelines require DNFBPs to, at a minimum:  Conduct and document a risk assessment of the firm’s inherent risks to determine the level of exposure to the risks of money laundering, terrorist financing, proliferation financing;  Establish written risk-based policies and procedures that comply with the provisions of AML laws and guidelines;  Identify and verify customers and their source of funds;  Appoint a CO and a MLRO;  Keep transaction, identification and vertification records;  Conduct on-going monitoring of customer transactions;  Report suspicious transactions to the FIU;  Ensure the management and appropriate staff receive AML training annually;  Conduct internal AML compliance reviews of its operations at least once per year; and  Submit to AML examination by the Commission and its appointed agents.
17.2 On-Site Examinations 17.2.1 Section 32(1)(b) of the FTRA authorises the Commission to conduct on-site examinations (OSEs) of the prescribed financial services performed by accounting firms, when deemed necessary.

17.2.2 N.B.

: The OSE is not an audit of the business activities.

It is simply a process to determine the accounting firms’ level of risks, the measures in place to mitigate the risks and the firm’s compliance with the AML requirements.
17.2.3 With the exception of the routine examination, which must be conducted by a licensed public accountant, duly appointed by the Commission, all other types of on-site examinations are conducted by the Commission’s Inspection Unit.
© 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 32 17.3 Off-Site Examinations 17.3.1 The off-site examination of the accounting firm will only be carried out by the Commission’s Inspection Unit during a follow-up of a routine examination or during a risk assessment of the firm.

The follow-up precedures can be found in para.

17.6 and the risk assessment in para.

19.


17.4 Types of examinations: 17.4.1 Routine Examination 17.4.1.1 The routine examination is conducted on-site and must be performed by a licensed public accountant or accounting firm approved by the Commission.

The approved list of Accountants is issued annually and posted on the Commission’s website.

17.4.2 N.B.
17.4.2 N.B.

The routine examination takes the form of an “agreed upon procedure” designed to test the adequacy of AML systems that have been implemented by an accounting firm for the purpose of meeting its obligations under the AML laws and regulations.

The “agreed upon procedure” was developed in conjunction with BICA.
17.4.3 The Commission determines, on a risk-sensitive basis, when a supervised financial institution should be required to undergo an on-site examination, having due regard for the adequacy of its policies and procedures for AML purposes.

17.4.4 The Commission’s examination year for the routine examination runs from 1st January to 31st December of each year.
However, the risk rating assigned to the firm by the Commission will determine the examination cycle of the accounting firms that provide prescribed financial services.

As previously stated, the routine examination must be an on-site examination.

The on-site examination report, must be completed and submitted to the Commission on or before the 30th June of each year following the period covered by the examination.
17.4.5 The licensed public accountant, engaged in conducting a routine on-site examination, must first undergo the relevant training by the Commission prior to obtaining a Letter of Appointment8, which gives him or her the authorization to commences the examination.

8 A Letter of Appointment is a document issued to licensed accountants by the Commission authorizing them to conduct on-site examinations as its agents.
This document indemnifies the accountant from any action which may arise in the course of or as a result of the examination.

© 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 33 17.4.6 An accounting firm may select the licensed public accountant of its choice, however, the examining accountant must be independent of the firm and the firm should satisfy itself that the examiner has a current and valid Letter of Appointment.
17.4.7 A routine examination assesses the accounting firm’s compliance with the AML laws i.e.

the FTRA, FTRR, the FI(TR)R, this Code and the FIU Guidelines.
The examination ensures evidence of requisite documentation and reviews the policies, procedures and practices in place for the under-noted operational areas of the accounting firm’s financial intermediary activities: (1) the verification/identification of clients; (2) maintenance of clients verification and transaction records; (3) reporting of suspicious transactions to the FIU; (4) appointment of a CO and MLRO; and (5) the internal procedures for money laundering, detection and prevention as required by the FI(TR)R inclusive of personnel training.
17.4.8 In the case of a routine on-site examination, once completed, the examining accountant should have an exit meeting with the firm to discuss the examination findings and any recommendations.

Within 10 days of completing the examination form the examining accountant must submit the completed examination form to the Commission to be evaluated.

Those accounting firms that receive an adverse rating on the routine on-site examination will be scheduled for a follow-up examination.
17.5 Frequency of the routine on-site examination 17.5.1 The Commission’s frequency and intensity of the on-site examination of the accounting firm is on a risk sensitive basis, taking into account:    the risk rating assigned (i.e., low, medium or high) to the firm by the Commission; the risk rating score of the last on-site examination conducted; the Commission’s understanding of the ML/TF risks profile of the accounting firm, its characteristics and in particular its diversity; © 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 34  the identified ML/TF risks, the policies, procedures and internal controls associated with the accounting firm, as identified by the Commission’s assessment of the accounting firms’s risk profile; and  the ML/TF risks present in The Bahamas; NB: Firms will also be subject to follow up off-site examination during the interim period of the risk-based examination cycle.
17.5.2 The Commission will advise the firm regarding the next date for a routine on-site examination taking into account the following considerations:  The Commission’s risk assessment of the firm’s prescribed financial services;  an evaluation of the firm’s risk-based policies and procedures for combating money laundering and terrorist financing to determine their adequacy; and  an evaluation by the Commission of the latest examination completed in relation to the firm to determine the firm’s level of compliance with its statutory obligations under the AML laws and the Commission’s Codes of Practice.
17.6 Follow-up Examinations 17.6.1 Follow-up examinations are conducted solely for the purpose of addressing the deficiencies of the AML Compliance programme of accounting firms that have been identified through a risk assessment and the routine on-site examination.

The examination can be conducted on- site or off-site depending on the severity of the case.

Such examinations are specific in scope and will focus on the identified weaknesses.
Follow-up examinations are conducted by Examiners of the Commission’s Inspection Unit.

17.6.2 Procedures for on-site Follow-up visits 17.6.2(a) Where an adverse rating is given, a Notice is issued advising the firm of a follow-up examination to take place within fourteen (14) working days.

Further, the Commission will advise the firm of the specific timeline to rectify all deficiencies discussed during the follow- up visit.

17.6.2(b) Steps for Follow-up on-site Examinations: Step 1.
The Commission contacts the accounting firm to arrange a meeting with Senior Management and/or the CO/MLRO Officer(s) within fourteen working © 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 35 (14) days.

The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the results of the routine examination.

Step 2.

During the meeting, the inadequacies of the AML systems are clearly identified, and a strategy is devised for addressing them.

Step 3.
Step 3.

The Commission will in turn issue a final letter outlining the deficiencies and set a deadline for the firm to satisfactorily address all issues.

Failure to adhere to the set deadline, may result in the Commission invoking administrative penalties.

17.6.2(c) Where sufficient progress is evident, no further follow-up visit is required regarding those issues and a report to this effect is made and the firm is advised that all deficiencies have been satisfactorily addressed.
17.6.3 Procedures for off-site Follow-up 17.6.3(a) If the follow-up is to be conducted off-site, this means that there were deficiencies identified that can be resolved without a follow up on-site examination.

The Commission will request additional information and make the necessary assessment.

Pending no further action, the firm will be advised accordingly.
17.6.3(b) However, if an accounting firm does not adhere to the strategy outlined for resolving the deficiencies within their AML compliance program, the following steps below are taken: Step 1.

A warning letter is forwarded to the accounting firm highlighting the details of previous discussions and/or communications and reminding the firm of the agreed-upon strategy for addressing the deficiencies.

A maximum period of three (3) months will be given for the accounting firm to rectify all deficiencies.
Step 2.

The Examiner will follow up in the interim to determine the firm’s progress in adequately addressing the deficiencies.

However, the firm has an obligation to inform the Commission that the deficiencies have been addressed and the recommendations implemented.

Step 3 Where the AML compliance program’s examination is found to be adequate, a final report is written to this effect.
If there is insufficient progress, a report is written on the non-compliance of the law and The Compliance Commission will determine whether or not legal action is to be pursued.

© 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 36 17.7 Random Examination 17.7.1 In addition to the routine examination, accounting firms are also subject to random on-site examinations by the Inspection Unit of the Commission.
The primary purpose of the random examination is to test the routine examination process.

The random examination, whenever selected, will override the risk based approach examination cycle.

17.7.2 The assessment process to be followed for a random examination is the same as that for the routine examination process (see section 17.4 to 17.5).

17.7.3 In the case of a random examination, a Notice will be sent to the accounting firm at least two (2) weeks prior to the examination.
This Notice will be forwarded to the MLRO/CO or the Senior Management of the accounting firm.

17.8 Special Examination 17.8.1 The Commission will conduct an on-site examination of an accounting firm in “special” circumstances, to determine if there has been any infraction of the AML laws and the extent of any such violations.
Such an examination will usually take place where an accounting firm has violated any provisions of the AML laws, or where information comes to the attention of the Commission that a statutorily prescribed accounting firm is providing financial services despite having advised the Commission to the contrary.
Depending on the nature of the circumstances, which give rise to invoking this approach, the procedure may be either a full examination as in the case of a routine examination, or an investigation directed towards a specific issue.

17.9 Examinations for firms that offer prescribed financial services, i.e.

services under sections 3(1)(h) & 4(e)(f) of the FTRA: 17.9.1 Fig.
3 on page 21 illustrates how an accountant/accounting firm may be engaged in providing several categories of prescribed financial services.

This occurs when the firm, in addition to offering services pursuant to section 4(e) & (f) of the FTRA, also, separately, provides services under section 3(1)(h) or under a financial and corporate service licence.
17.9.2 Examinations for firms in accordance with section 4(e) & (f) of the FTRA that also provide services under section 3(1)(h) of the FTRA without a financial & corporate service providers license.
© 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 37 17.9.2-1 Where an accounting firm, as a financial institition under section 4(e) & (f) of the FTRA, also provides prescribed financial services under section 3(1)(h) of the FTRA, the firm will be subject to an examination covering all the relevant services.

17.9.2-2 The examination process in both cases follows the same procedures as for the single examination (see section 17).
17.9.3 Examinations for firms in accordance with section 4(e) & (f) that also provide prescribed financial services under a financial & corporate service providers (FCSP) licence.
17.9.3-1 Where an accounting firm, as a financial institution for certain of its activities under sections 3(1)(h) & 4(e)(f) of the FTRA, also holds a FCSP licence, (whether in its own name or through a company established specifically for that purpose), the business that is performed pursuant to the licence is also subject to an examination under section 11(4) of the FCSPA.

This latter examination, is separate and apart from the examination required by section 32 (1)(b) of the FTRA.
In such a case, the firm is required to have completed two separate examinations – one for the sections 3(1)(h) & 4(e)(f) services under the supervision of the Commission and the other for the financial and corporate service activities under the supervision of the Inspector of FCSPs, Codes for which are available on the Securities Commission’s website).
© 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 38 C. INTERNAL AML PROCEDURES This part provides some guidance on implementing the internal AML procedures to give effect to the obligations in:  Part II (sections 6-9, 13-14) of the FTRA and Part lll (regulations 4-13) of the FTRR that deal respectively with customer due diligence/verification/identification; Record-keeping (section 15-18) of the FTRA, Suspicious Transactions and Reporting (section 25-30) of the FTPA; and  Regulation 3-6 of the FI(TR)R which requires the implementation of internal reporting procedures for identification, record keeping, suspicious transaction reporting and staff awareness, education and training9.
The Commission has implemented a risk-based framework for addressing AML vulnerabilities posed to the entire firm.

The process of implementing such a framework involves putting in place procedures for identifying the money laundering, terrorist financing and proliferation financing risks facing the firm, given its clientele, products, services, transactions, geographical regions and delivery channels.
Firms should have regard to all available information, including published money laundering typologies10 and terrorist lists, to assist with identifying potential risks.

In order for accountants/accounting firms to have effective risk-based approaches, the risk-based process must be imbedded within the internal controls of the firm.

The success of internal policies and procedures will depend largely on the internal control systems.

Two (2) key factors that will assist in achieving this objective are: 1.
Culture of Compliance Compliance must be embedded within the very fabric of an organization, if the goal of the organization is to adhere to the legislative laws of the country.

The culture of compliance must be a part of the everyday workflow and sets the foundation and expectation for individual behavior across the organization.

Without a commitment to compliance, even the best policies and procedures will be useless.
This should encompass:  developing, delivering, and maintaining a training program for all accountants as well as 9 These procedures are mandated by Recommendations 10-11, 18, 20, 22-23, of the FATF’s 40 Recommendations 10 See FATF Money Laundering Typologies, http://www1.oecd.org/fatf/FATDocs_en.htm#Trends © 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 39 non-accountants with responsibility for any aspect of the firm’s AML compliance program;  monitoring for any government regulatory changes; and  undertaking a regularly scheduled review of applicable compliance policies and procedures within legal practices, which will help foster a culture of compliance in the firm.
2.

Senior Management Responsibility and Support Senior management is ultimately responsible for ensuring that the accounting firm maintains an effective AML internal control structure, including suspicious activity monitoring and reporting.

Strong senior management leadership and engagement in AML is an important aspect of the application of the risk-based approach.
Senior management must create a culture of compliance by setting the tone at the top, and ensuring that staff adheres to the policies, procedures and processes designed to limit and control risks.

© 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 40 V. PERIODIC INTERNAL REVIEW OF AML SYSTEMS 18.
INTERNAL COMPLIANCE REVIEWS 18.1 Accounting firms are required to perform internal compliance reviews (at least on an annual basis), the results of which should be accessible for review both by examining independent accountants and the Commission’s Examiners.

18.2 In addition to the examination programmes, periodic testing and auditing of the AML policies, procedures and controls should be undertaken.
This can be a useful tool in apprising the Commission of any changes which may have occurred between examinations.

Such changes may include number of facilities, staff movements, and verification of compliance with policies, procedures, and controls to counter AML activities in relation to all their prescribed financial services.

Larger accounting firms may wish to assign this role to their Internal Audit or Compliance Department.
Smaller accounting firms may accomplish the same objective by introducing a regular review by their management personnel, taking into consideration that those involved must be independent of the decisions and execution related to the compliance programme.
18.3 Information Technology (IT) Infrastructure 18.3.1 Accounting firms are required to have policies in place and take such measures as may be needed to identify and assess the ML/TF risks that may arise in relation to:- (a) the development of new products and new business practices, including new delivery mechanisms, and (b) the use of new or developing technologies for both new and pre-existing products.
18.3.2 Accounting firms must undertake the risk assessments prior to the launch or use of such products, practices and technologies; and take appropriate measures to manage and mitigate the risks.

Periodic reviews and updates of all technology must also be undertaken to ensure that Management Information Systems (MIS) are adequate and up-to-date to avoid penetration of ML/TF within the system.
© 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 41 18.3.3 The MIS is required to provide the firm with timely information on a regular basis to enable the firm to detect irregularity and/or any suspicious activity.

The MIS shall be adequate, in that, it is commensurate with the nature, scale, and complexity of the accounting firm’s activities and ML/TF risk profile.
18.3.4 It is worth noting that cyber criminals are constantly working to find innovative and effective means to steal information, data and ultimately money by any means possible.

Therefore, awareness of cyber criminal threats and techniques are the best defence.
Accountants and accounting firms should initiate an awareness program to ensure that their employees are trained and well informed to recognize when cyber criminals are conducting fraudulent transactions, downloading malware or compromising sensitive data.

Some mitigating measures include: (i) upgrade of IT systems periodically (as mentioned earlier) and put in place mechanism to avoid computer systems (email, email server, internet) from being compromised, intercepted or altered by cyber criminals.
(ii) establish a sound and robust technology risk management framework; (iii) strengthen system security, reliability, availability and recoverability; and (iv) emphasize the benefit of using appropriate technologies and control mechanisms that protect customer data and transactions.

© 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 42 VII.

RISK–BASED FRAMEWORK 19.


Obligations under the Law to Develop a Risk-Based Framework: 19.1 In recognition of The Bahamas National Risk Assessment (NRA), the direction of the country in its efforts to combating AML, the FATF standards of Recommendation and in keeping with international best practices, the Commission has adopted and implemented a risk-based AML/CFT supervisory regime.
The primary goal is to ensure that accounting firms under the supervision of the Commission have adequate controls and resources in place to manage and mitigate the inherent risks identified.
19.1.1 Every financial institution pursuant to section 5 of the FTRA is required to:  take appropriate measures to identify, assess and understand the identified or inherent risks in relation to its facility holders and the countries or jurisdictions of their origin; the countries or jurisdictions of its operations; and its products, services, transactions and delivery channels;  develop and implement a comprehensive risk management system approved by the financial institution's senior management and commensurate with the scope of its activities, incorporating continuous identification, measurement, monitoring and controlling of identified risks;  take appropriate measures to manage and mitigate the inherent risks identified;  take account of any risk assessment carried out at a national level and any  upon request, provide the Supervisory Authority with a copy of its risk assessment.
19.1.2 Every financial institution shall carry out a risk assessment:  prior to the launch of a new product or business practice;  prior to the use of new or developing technologies;  when there is a major event or development in the management and operation of the group, to identify and assess the identified risks that may arise in relation to such products, business practices or technology for both new and pre- existing products and such assessment shall consider; © 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 43  the facility holder's geographic area, product, service, transaction and means of delivery risk factors, which shall be proportionate to the nature and size of the financial institution's business; and  the outcome of any risk assessment carried out at a national level, and any regulatory guidance issued.
19.1.3 Every financial institution shall document in writing the outcome of a risk assessment and shall keep the same up to date and make it available to relevant competent authorities and regulatory bodies upon request.

19.1.4 Every accounting firm, regardless of its size and complexity is expected to develop and implement an adequate risk assessment and management system for AML.
A risk assessment enables the firm to focus its AML efforts and to adopt appropriate measures to optimally allocate the available resources.

This process is necessary for managing the risks of ML/TF to which the firm may be vulnerable.

It involves the identification, analysis, management and mitigation of such risks, inclusive of the on-going monitoring of the risks.

19.1.5 Terrorism financing describes the activities that provide financial support to terrorists or terrorist organizations.
The objective is to suppress terrorism by depleting the resources of the financers to the terrorist or terrorist cells.

Unlike ML where the funding source is from illicit activities, TF can be derived from both legitimate (example, by individuals and organizations through donations and investment in legitimate businesses) and illegitimate sources.

The global effort to curb TF, drove the terrorist to illegal sources through organized crime such as exploitation, trafficking, kidnapping etc.
– which differs from the placement, layering and integration stages used in ML.

However, both ML and TF threats seeks to exploit the same set of vulnerable features and characteristics of products and services offered by firms to launder proceeds of crime or fund terrorism.

Therefore, the risk assessment related to money laundering is also applicable to terrorism financing.

© 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 44 Fig.
4 - OVERVIEW OF FIVE (5) STAGES OF A ML/TF RISK ASSESSMENT PROCESS11: 19.2 STAGE 1 - RISK IDENTIFICATION 19.2.1 In adherence to the obligations highlighted in 19.1.1 to 19.1.5 above, it is imperative that accountants/accounting firms take the appropriate steps to identify, assess and understand the ML /TF inherent risks posed to the firm via its clients, products and services; transactions, delivery channels and countries or geographical areas.
Depending on the nature of the firm’s business the inherent risks categories may be expanded.

The objective is to ensure that reasonable measures are taken to satisfy the firm that all new and existing client relationships, products, activities and processes are properly assessed to determine the level of risk associated with all aspects of the business to avoid the firm being used as a conduit for laundering or funding terrorism.
11 Refer to Appendix F for more reference reading on how to conduct a risk assessment.

© 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 45 19.2.2 Proper scrutiny should be extended to the under-noted key factors:  What is the size and nature of the business?

 Who are the beneficial owner(s)?

 What type of clients, products and services does the firm have?

 Are funds derived from legitimate sources in every transaction?
 What kind of delivery channels are used for the products and services?

 What jurisdiction does the firm operate from?

19.2.3 It is important to categorize the key risks and vulnerabilities based on the degree of money laundering and terrorist financing risks they pose to the firm.

The type of inherent risks and vulnerabilities should be documented and placed in the firm’s policies and procedures manual.
Further the type, volume and value of the transactions should also be documented along with the control measures.

Accountants and accounting firms should ensure that they are satisfied with the following details for the various categories of inherent risk indicators outlined below to be able to make a determination regarding the AML risks each poses.

This is not an exhaustive list and should only be used as a guide: Risk Categories Risk Indicators Business Operation   Is the operating structure complex?
Is it integrated with other sectors (i.e., Trust and corporate services) plus the scope and accessibility of the operation?

 Does the firm have a comprehensive risk management system approved by senior management and commensurate with the scope of its activities, incorporating continuous identification, measurement, monitoring and controlling of identified risks?

 Does the firm have effective policies, procedures and systems in place to mitigate inherent risks?
 Does the firm take measures to manage and mitigate the inherent risks?

 Does the firm take account of any risk assessment carried out at a national level and any regulatory guidance issued by the Commission?

The Client   Is the client a Politically Exposed Person (PEP)?

Is the client a cash intensive business (i.e., money service business, casinos or money transfer agents etc.)?
© 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 46  Is it difficult to determine the beneficial owner or hard to determine the legal persons?

 Is there public (verifiable and open source) information that is adverse - that associates the client with any known money laundering, terrorist financing and proliferation financing activities?

 Is the client’s occupation or business activities commonly linked to money laundering or terrorist financing activities?
 Does the client use intermediaries that are not subject to adequate AML/CFT laws and measures?

 Does the client change settlement or execution instructions without appropriate explanation?

Products and  Do the products and services required by or provided by Services the client offer the anonymity and movement of funds commonly linked to money laundering and terrorist financing activities?

What is the nature of the products and services and the extent of their vulnerability?
Are the products and services offered deemed high risk by the Commission or other credible sources like the IMF or WB (i.e., trust services, holding of funds for clients, management of client’s funds etc.)?

Are there large volumes of transactions with high risk clients and businesses?

Are there frequent movement of funds to or from high risk countries?

Does the firm engage in high volume of cash transactions?
     Transactions Delivery Channels  Are the delivery channels complex (i.e., many intermediaries)?

 Are the delivery channels face-to-face, via a third party, electronic devices, postal mail, telephone, fax or email?

Geographical Reach  Does the client’s jurisdiction apply globally acceptable AML standards or is the jurisdiction identified as being commonly linked to money laundering or terrorist financing activities by the Bahamas or other credible sources like the IMF, FATF, World Bank?
 What is the exposure to high risk jurisdictions and other © 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 47 locations of concern?

 Is the jurisdiction subject to sanctions, embargoes or similar measures issued by the United Nations?

 Is dictatorship promoted whereby the rule of law is at the mercy of the dictator?

 Is the client jurisdiction identified by credible sources as having significant levels of corruption or other criminal activity?
19.3 STAGE 2 - RISK ANALYSIS 19.3.1 Once the firm has identified the areas of the business operations that are susceptible to ML/TF, it is imperative to conduct an analysis in order to assess the likelihood of the occurrence of risk events and impact of ML/TF risks.

An effective process of ML/TF risk analysis serves as a basis for establishing an adequate system of risk management and control, and consequently, for reaching the ultimate goal of minimising possible adverse effects arising from that risk.
19.3.2 The likelihood of occurrence is a combination of threat and vulnerability, or in other words, risk events occur when a threat exploits vulnerability.

For example: Fig.

5 Risk Analysis (Likehood & Impact) 19.3.3 The level of risk can be mitigated by reducing the size of the threats, vulnerabilities, or their impact.
Please refer to section 11 above which highlights some of the vulnerabilities of the accountants, in addition to FATA Guidance, number 2 under References at Appendix F. It should be noted that this is not an exhausted list.
Every segment of the business operations where ML/TF threats and vulnerabilities to those threats may emerge must be analysed © 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 48 continuously to determine the exposure to ML/TF and to ensure that same is properly managed.
19.4 STAGE 3 - RISK ASSESSMENT MATRIX 19.4.1 As it is required by law for every FI and DNFBPs to conduct a risk assessment as outlined above in sections 19.1.1 to 19.1.4, the firm should establish whether all identified categories of risks pose a low, medium or high risk to the business operations.

The firm must review different factors such as the establishment and maintenance of a client relationship, number and scope of transactions, geographical location and nature of the business relationship etc.
At the beginning of any client relationship, a risk rating designation should be determined, based on the information contained in the client profile and relationship documentation.
Hence, firms should develop a risk matrix to:  ascertain which inherent risk factors (all identified categories of risks) pose a low, medium or high ML/TF risks;  establish whether the delivery channels pose an additional higher ML/TF risk factor; and  establish whether the country risk is an overall higher ML/TF risk factor.

The matrix should also include all other risk factors identified.
19.4.2 The timing to review the risk rating should be predicated on the overall/composite risk rating (for example, high risk to be reassessed every twelve (12) months, medium every eighteen (18) months and low risk every twenty-four (24) months).

19.4.3 The criteria for the risk designation should be reviewed by the Compliance Officer annually, as part of the firm’s annual risk assessment.
19.4.4 LEVEL OF ML/TF RISK RATING The level of ML/TF risk will generally be affected by both internal and external factors.

For example, internal risk factors may increase due to inadequate compliance resources, weak risk controls and insufficient senior management involvement.

External level risks may rise due to factors such as the action of third parties and/or political and public developments.

© 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 49 Fig.
6 - THE RATING BELOW SIGNIFIES THE LEVEL OF SUSCEPTIBILITY TO ML/TF RISK: The Level of Definition / Likelihood Susceptibility to ML/TF Risk HIGH Probably occurs several times per year.

Assessment on the risk factors (Almost Certain) indicates that the firm is highly vulnerable and there is a high chance of ML/TF occurring in this area of business operations.

MEDIUM (Possible) Probably occurs once per year.


Assessment on the risk factor indicates that the firm is moderately/fairly vulnerable and there is a possibility of ML/TF occurring in this area of business operations.

LOW Unlikely to occur but not impossible.

Assessment on the risk factor (Unlikely) indicates that the firm is less vulnerable and there is a low chance of ML/TF occurring in this area of business operations.
19.4.5 The Commission requires accounting firms, at a minimum, to place clients, products, services, transactions, delivery channels and client geographical location into one of three risk categories (i.e., Low Risk, Medium Risk or High Risk12).

19.5 STAGE 4 - RISK MANAGEMENT/CONTROL & MITIGATION 19.5.1 Based on the analysis, the firm should set the overall AML/CFT strategy and ensure that it concurs with the risk appetite and risk culture.
Accounting firms shall develop adequate policies and procedures to control and mitigate the ML/TF risks that have been identified.
19.5.2 The risk control and mitigation shall be tailored according to the identified ML/TF risk level and seek to:  Ensure that management clearly promotes the AML strategy and sets the tone at the top;  Develop an AML policy, procedures and mitigating measures;  Determine which measures will be taken for which risk categories;  Ensure that management sets transaction limit for higher risk customer/transaction; 12 It should be noted that the number of categories, i.e.
three (3), required by the Commission is a minimum number.

Some financial institutions may have more categories but the rationale for the number of categories and the criteria for each should be clearly documented and available for review during the course of an examination.
© 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 50  Ensure sufficient training in AML policies and procedures for staff; and  Provide appropriate tools and adequate resources to implement the AML systems.
19.5.3 An adequate system of ML/TF risk management should include:  A risk assessment of ML/TF risks of the business;  Policies and procedures to control ML/TF risks;  An organizational structure to execute these risk management controls; and  A process to systematically check and assess the adequacy of the control systems.
19.5.4 Adequate and effective risk mitigation strategies should be designed, developed and implemented to lessen or reduce, if not totally eliminate, the adverse impact of the known or perceived risks inherent in a particular undertaking before any damage or disaster takes place.

Senior management’s ability and willingness to take necessary corrective action is also a critical determining factor to this process of mitigating the adverse risks.

Mitigation plans should be documented.


19.5.5 Firms must also ensure that their procedures include mechanisms for appropriate risk mitigation which involves identifying and applying client due diligence/KYC policies and procedures to effectively mitigate the money laundering risk of particular clients, products or services identified during the risk assessment process.
19.5.6 The firm should document the risks assessment, consider all relevant risk factors to determine the level of risk and the appropriate type of mitigation plan to be applied, update risks assessments and to have in place mechanisms to provide information to relevant competent authorities.
A senior officer should be responsible for documenting all risks assessments of the accounting firm and the assessments should be kept in such a way that it is stored on microfiche, computer disk or in other electronic form.
19.5.7 This process includes being able to: (a) (b) (c) (d) Document the outcome of the firm’s risks assessments; Consider all the relevant risk factors before determining what is the level of overall risks and the appropriate level and type of mitigation to be applied; Keep these assessments up to date; and Have appropriate mechanisms to provide risk assessment information to competent authorities and self-regulatory bodies upon request.
19.6 STAGE 5 - RISK MONITORING AND REVEW © 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 51 19.6.1 Management should adequately and effectively manage ML/TF risks, to verify the level of implementation and effective functioning of the ML/FT risk controls, and to determine whether the risk management measures correspond to the firm’s risk analysis.
The firm should set up compliance monitoring and audit program, which should encompass regular testing to ensure that procedures and measures are working correctly and the production of compliance and audit reports.

Monitoring should be on-going as the risks may change significantly at any time and to the extent that the mitigation strategies become ineffective and require revision.

Monitoring should be a standard part of the management review program.
19.6.2 Senior management of the firm should ensure the allocation of adequate resources, taking into account the risks posed to the firm.

The firm should establish an appropriate and continuing process for monitoring the risks, in particular, those activities assessed to be of a higher risk of ML/TF.

© 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 52 Vl.

CLIENT IDENTIFICATION/VERIFICATION (KYC13) PROCEDURES 20.
VERIFICATION DETAILS AND DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE PROCEDURES 20.1 When must identification and verification take place?

20.1.1 Accounting firms have a mandatory statutory obligation to establish with a reasonable belief that it knows the true identity of each client and beneficial owner.

The identification documents provided by the client are used in the verification process.
A summary of the identification and verification triggers required by the law include:  when a new facility is being opened (whether permanent or occasional);  when a facility holder is being added to an existing facility;  where doubt exist about the veracity or adequacy of previously obtained customer identification information of a facility holder;  where a non-facility holder seeks to conduct a cash transaction involving $15,000 or more either for himself or on someone else’s behalf;  where the facility holder seeks to conduct a cash transaction or an occasional transaction of $15,000 or more on behalf of a third party, using his facility, including situations where the transaction is carried out in a single operation or in several operations that appear to be linked;  where there is a suspicion of activities relating to any identified risks involving the facility holder or the facility holder’s account;  where there is a material change in the way the facility is being operated;  where there is caused to suspect that the identity of the facility holder or beneficial owner or the person conducting a transaction is in doubt;  Where a facility holder is a corporate entity, the obligation to verify the identity of beneficial owners will only be required for those beneficial owners having a controlling interest in the corporate entity; 13 “KYC” is the shortened form for “know your customer” or “know your client”.
In the AML realm, this, knowing your customer, is achieved through the process of conducting a due diligence exercise to gather, verify and assess pertinent information on the client.
© 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 53  where there has been no recent contact with the facility holder or no transaction involving the facility within a period of 5 years, and the facility has not been closed out, the real estate firm is required, by law, to verify the identity of the facility holder; and  where a person, who is neither a facility holder nor in an established business relationship with the financial institution wishes to carry out a transaction (to be referred to as structuring of an occasional transaction - See Figure 7 below for an explanation of structuring).
Please refer to sections 6-8 and 11-14 of the FTRA for a comprehensive view of the obligations for identification and verification of a facility holder.

20.1.2 Although the primary duty to verify identity using the best evidence and means available rests with the accounting firm; in exceptional circumstances, an accounting firm may wish to approach a third party or eligible introducer specifically for the purpose of satisfying itself on a verification of identity that it must complete.
In these exceptional circumstances, please refer to guidance via section 23 of this document.

Fig.

7: Structuring What is structuring?

Structuring transactions as a means of avoiding having to provide verification evidence is a practice known in money laundering schemes.

This structuring, which is referred to as “linked” transactions or “smurfing”, presents special challenges for verification prior to the transaction being conducted.
For this reason there is a need in some cases to aggregate linked transactions to identify those who might structure their business activities to avoid the identification procedures.

There is no legal requirement to establish additional systems specifically to identify and aggregate linked transactions.
However, where an accounting firm detects that two or more cash transactions by or on behalf of someone who is not the firm’s facility holder, have totalled more than $15,000, and it has reasonable grounds to suspect that this was intentionally done to avoid meeting the $15,000 threshold that would require verification, then this information must be acted upon as soon as practicable after the accountant/accounting firm forms that conclusion.
The accounting firm/accountant is then under an obligation to verify the identity of the person seeking to conduct any other related transaction.

The attempt to transact the linked activities must be in relation to the firm’s prescribed financial services, which generates the obligation to verify identity.

This requirement exists whether or not the person conducting the transaction is doing so for himself, on behalf of someone else, or in concert with others.
 Timing of verification in structured transactions: Verification of identity in a structured transaction must take place as soon as reasonably practicable after concluding that structuring is taking or has taken place.
Where the person conducting the transaction under a structured arrangement is doing so through his own facility as an © 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 54 intermediary on behalf of someone else, the accounting firm must verify the identity of that other person as soon as reasonably practicable after concluding that structuring is taking or has taken place.
 Indications that transactions are being structured: In determining whether or not transactions are or have been structured to avoid the verification procedure, the accounting firm shall take into consideration the following factors: (a) the time frame within which the transactions are conducted; and (b) whether or not the parties to the transactions are the same person, or are associated in any way.
20.1.3 Documentary evidence sufficient to establish the identity of the client must be on record, as part of the due diligence process, for every facility or occasional transaction that has been verified for low, medium and high risk clients.
20.1.4 Part III of the FTRR provide a list of mandatory documentation and information that must be obtained to verify identity, as well as additional information that may be relied upon to further establish, conclusively, the identity of a person that must be verified.

The determination of any additional information required for high risk clients should be documented in the firm’s enhanced due diligence procedures for high risk clients.
20.2 Verification of identity of individuals 20.2.1 Where an accounting firm is required to verify the identity of any individual pursuant to section 7 of the FTRA the following information is required:-      the full, correct and legal name of the individual; contact information 14; date and place of birth; the purpose of the account; and the nature of the business relationship to be established.
20.2.2 In addition to the requirements above, the following information and documentation may be required (based on the firm’s risk-rating procedures) to verify the identity of an individual:-     evidence of the source of funds and source of wealth; a specimen signature; telephone and fax number, if any; occupation, name of employer, and where self-employed, the nature of the self-employment; or 14 Points of contact may include - mobile phone number, business mobile phone, personal landline number, personal mailing address, business mailing address, residential mailing address and any other means of contact that the Commission may specify.
© 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 55  a copy of the relevant identification pages of the passport; a driver’s licence; a voter’s card; national identity card; or such other identification document bearing a photographic likeness of the individual as is reasonably capable of establishing the identity of the individual.
20.3 Verification of corporate entity 20.3.1 Where an accounting firm is required to verify the existence of a corporate entity, the accounting firm must require the corporate entity to submit the under-noted documents:- a) b) a certified copy of the Certificate of Incorporation; a certified copy of the Memorandum of Association and Articles of Association15 of the entity; c) a certified copy of the resolution of the Board of Directors of the corporate entity authorizing the opening of the account and conferring authority on the natural person who will operate the facility; d) documentary evidence as is required under regulation 6 of the FTRR for the verification of the natural person who will operate the facility; e) documentary evidence to satisfy the requirements for the identification and verification of the identity of all beneficial owners of the corporate entity.
The obligation to verify the identity of beneficial owners shall only extend to those with at least 10% or more controlling interest in the corporate entity.
Further, to the extent that there is doubt under the above obligation as to whether the person with the controlling interest is the beneficial owner or where no natural person exerts control via ownership interest, the identity of the natural person, if any, exercising control of the legal person or arrangement via other means; or where no natural person is identified above, the identity of the relevant natural person who holds the position of senior managing official shall be obtained.
a certificate of good standing; the location of the registered office and if different, the location of the principal place of business; f) g) h) a description of the nature of the business, including the date of commencement of the business, a description of the products or services 15 In the case of a Bahamian incorporated company, if the accounting firms has, as part of the files, the documents of incorporation (e.g.
certificate, Memorandum and Articles of Association) bearing an original seal of the Registrar General this would be sufficient to meet this obligation.

© 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 56 provided by the business and the location/address of principal business; and i) such other official documentary and other information as is reasonably capable of establishing information on the client’s ownership and control structural of the corporate entity.
20.3.2 In addition to the requirements above, the following information and documents may also be relied upon to support verification of a corporate entity: The names and addresses of all officers and directors of the corporate entity; the purpose of the facility and the potential parameters of the facility, including size, in the case of investment and custody facilities; balance ranges, in the case of deposit facilities; the expected transaction volume of the facility; and written confirmation that all credits to the facility are and will be beneficially owned by the facility holder except in circumstances where the facility is being operated by an intermediary for the purpose of holding funds in his professional capacity.
20.4 Verification of identity of partnership or unincorporated business 20.4.1 Where the accounting firm is required to verify the identity of a partnership or other unincorporated business, pursuant to section 7(1) of the FTRA, the following information must be required: a) verification of all partners or beneficial owners in accordance with regulation 4 of the FTRR; b) copy of partnership agreement (if any) or other agreement establishing the unincorporated business; c) mandate from the partnership or beneficial owner authorizing the opening of the account and conferring authority on those who will operate the account; and d) any documentary evidence as is required under regulation 6 of the FTRR for the verification of the natural person who will operate the facility.
20.4.2 In addition to the above, the following information/documents may also be relied upon to complete the verification of the partnership or other unincorporated business: a) Details regarding the description and nature of the business including: date of commencement of the business; a description of the © 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 57 products or services provided the business; and the location/address of principal place of business.
b) The purpose of the account and the potential parameters of the facility including, size, in the case of investment and client facilities; balance ranges in the case of deposit and client facilities; and the expected transaction volume of the facilities.
c) written confirmation that all credits to the facility are and will be beneficially owned by the facility holder except in circumstances where the facility is being operated by an intermediary for the purpose holding funds in his professional capacity; and d) such documentary or other evidence as is reasonably capable of establishing the identity of the partners or beneficial owners.
20.5 Verification of trust and other legal arrangement 20.5.1 Typologies have shown the trust to be a popular vehicle for money laundering.

Particular care needs to be exercised when these arrangements have been set up in locations with strict secrecy or confidentiality rules regarding disclosure of beneficiaries and other such information.

20.5.2 Trustees should be asked to state from the outset the capacity in which they are operating or making the application for a facility.
Sight of certified extracts covering the appointment and powers of the trustees from/or the original trust deed, and any subsidiary deed evidencing the appointment of current trustees, should also be obtained.

20.5.3 Any application to become a facility holder or undertake a transaction on behalf of another, without the applicant identifying their trust capacity, should be regarded as suspicious and should lead to further enquiries.
20.5.4 Where an accounting firm is required to verify identity in relation to a trust, the firm shall, in addition to carrying out the obligations imposed by the FTRA and the FTRR, take reasonable measures to determine the identity of the:- (i) settlor of the trust; (ii) beneficiaries or class of beneficiaries of the trust; (iii) protector, if any; and (iv) the natural person exercising effective control over the trust.
© 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 58 20.5.5 Where a firm is required to verify identity in relation to a legal arrangement other than a trust, the firm shall, in addition to the obligations imposed by the FTRA and the FTRR, take reasonable measures to determine the identity of:- (i) the legal person exercising effective control over the legal arrangement; (ii) the beneficiary, if any; and (iii) the natural person establishing such arrangement.
20.5.6 Where money is received by a trust, it is important to ensure that the source of the funds is properly identified, the nature of the transaction is understood, and payments are made only in accordance with the terms of the trust and are properly authorised in writing.
20.6 Exemption from verification Pursuant to section 8 of the FTRA, documentary evidence shall not normally be required for verification of identity of: — (a) any financial institution regulated by the Central Bank of The Bahamas, The Securities Commission of The Bahamas, The Inspector, Financial Corporate Service Providers, The Insurance Commission of The Bahamas, or the Gaming Board; (b) a financial institution, which is:- (i) subject to anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism obligations; (ii) is under supervision for compliance with the obligations referred to in subparagraph (i); and (iii) has adequate procedures for compliance with customer due diligence and record keeping requirements; (c) any central or local government agency or statutory body; and (d) a publicly traded company listed on The Bahamas International Stock Exchange or any other Stock Exchange specified in the Schedule and approved by the Securities Commission of The Bahamas.
20.7 Verification of beneficial owner: 20.7.1 Where an accounting firm is required to verify the identity of a facility holder under Part II of the FTRA, the firm shall verify the identity of the beneficial owner of such facility in accordance with the FTRR.

20.8 Verification of facilities established by telephone or internet.
20.8.1 Where an individual, corporate entity or partnership makes a request to establish a facility by telephone, internet, or written communication, the accounting firm must verify, in accordance with the FTRR, the identify of that individual, corporate entity or partnership for whom the facility is being established.

© 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 59 20.8.2 Nothwithstanding para.
20.8.1 above, the accounting firm may rely on the verification of the identity of the individual, corporate entity or partnership in accordance with regulation 9 of the FTRR.

20.9 Continued Verification of accounts 20.9.1 Where the identity of the facility holder has been verified, no further verification of identity is necessary unless there is a material change in the operation of the facility.
20.9.2 Where there is a material change in the operation of a facility includes but is not limited to:- a) change in ownership of the facility; or b) activity which gives rise to the suspicion of any identified risk.

20.9.3 Every financial institution shall carry out monitoring of all facility holders for consistency with the facility holders stated account purposes during the business relationship.

20.10 Verification of facilities/accounts for intermediaries16 (nominees, fiduciaries, trustees etc.)
20.10.1 Where a transaction is being conducted by a person in his capacity as an intermediary, including a nominee or a fiduciary on behalf of another or others, those others, unless exempted, must also be verified in accordance with the above specifications set out in paragraphs 20.2 to 20.4.

The details and documents relied upon to verify those other individuals should also be contained in the file of the primary verification subject in accordance with guidance contained in para.

20.2.
20.2.

20.11 Transfer of records.

Where an existing facility holder closes one facility and opens another facility the financial institution shall confirm the identity of the facility holder and obtain any additional information with respect to the facility holder and all records relating to the existing account shall be transferred to the new facility and retained in accordance with the Act and any regulation made thereunder.
20.12 Failure to Satisfactorily Complete CDD 20.12.1 Where an accounting firm is unable to comply with relevant CDD measures, it shall be required not to open the account, commerce business relations or perform the transaction; or shall be required to terminate the business relationship.

In the event of a client’s failure to 16 Regulation 10, FTRR.
© 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 60 comply with CDD requirements, accounting firms must consider making a suspicious transaction report (STR) in relation to the client.

21.

SIMPLIFIED DUE DILIGENCE PROCESS 21.1 What is Simplified Due Diligence?
21.1.1 Simplified or reduced customer due diligence is the lowest form of due diligence and does not go beyond the verification of the identification of the client (and of course, checking against the sanctions list/database).

Simplified CDD is reserved for those instances where the customer, product/services combination falls into the lowest risk category where there is little opportunity or risk of ML/TF.
This would not include an instance where there is a beneficial owner involved (where there is someone acting for another, there is an element of risk involved and at the very least Standard CDD should be employed).

Continued monitoring is required to determine when trigger events occur that may require further due diligence at a future date.
21.1.2 Simplified or reduced customer due diligence is also subject to, in all cases, the overriding statutory obligation17 to carry out verification in any situation where the accounting firm suspects that a transaction involves the proceeds of criminal conduct or is destined for financing terrorist activities.

Simplified or reduced due diligence means that the obligation to obtain the full complement of documentary evidence normally required is relaxed.
The low risks due diligence procedures, should at a minimum, be consistent with the low risks identified by the National Risk Assessment (NRA).

21.2 When must Simplified Due Diligence be carried out?

21.2.1.

Where the risks identified are low, the accounting firm shall conduct simplified due diligence measures unless there is a suspicion of activities related to any identified risks in which case enhanced customer due diligence measures shall be undertaken.
21.2.2 The procedures require an accounting firm to establish to its satisfaction that it is dealing with a legitimate person (natural, corporate or legal) and verify the identity of those persons who have authority to conduct business through any facility provided.

Whenever possible, the prospective client should be interviewed personally.
21.2.3 Ultimately, simplified due diligence procedures should ensure that the firm is satisfied with the identity and existence of the client; that the proper authorisations exist for the prescribed 17 Section 8, FTRA © 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 61 financial services being sought by the customer/client, including that the person seeking to conduct the affairs of the entity, in a relevant case, is duly authorised to do so.
21.3 Additional guidance on due diligence for regulated financial institution, clients to which simplified due diligence may be applied: 21.3.1 For regulated financial institutions (both local and foreign), it is recommended that the confirmation of their existence and regulated status be checked by the following means:  checking with the relevant regulator or supervisory body;  checking with another office, subsidiary or branch in the same country;  checking with a regulated bank of the institution if it is an overseas institution; and  obtaining from the relevant institution evidence of its licence and its authorization to conduct business with the firm.
21.3.2 In addition, the firm is required to satisfy itself that the regulated financial institution is subject to AML supervision that is equivalent to or exceeds standards under Bahamian law.

21.3.3 N.B.
21.3.3 N.B.

Where simplified due diligence is applied to satisfy record-keeping obligations, the file should contain adequate documentation including, in appropriate cases, a copy of the relevant certificate or license or such similar document that supports the application of simplified due diligence, as well as other relevant copies of substantiating evidence.
21.4 Special circumstances where simplified due diligence may be applied in the case of a previous or existing client: 21.4.1 There are two circumstances in which a firm may apply simplified or reduced due diligence procedures for a client who would otherwise be subject to full due diligence.

This is where the firm may already have the necessary information on file.
The two circumstances are: (1) where the firm has reasonable grounds to believe that in relation to a particular client, the verification information/details/ documentation which it has obtained on an earlier occasion is still reasonably capable of establishing the identity of that client; and (2) where the client is an existing one, who closes a facility and then establishes another with the firm, in which case the existing records may be transferred to the new facility.
© 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 62 21.4.2 N.B.

However, the opportunity should be taken to confirm the relevant customer verification information.

This is particularly important where there has been no recent contact or communication with the client or when a previously dormant facility is being reactivated.
21.4.3 Standard Customer Due Diligence occurs in those general situations where there is the potential risk, but it is unlikely that the risks will be materialized.

In addition to the identification and verification process, the firm needs to gather additional information to understand the nature of the business relationship; check references; based on the purpose of the account, gather relevant information; inquire behind information, if there is a suspicion that it is inaccurate etc.
Continued monitoring is required to determine when trigger events occur that may require further due diligence at a future date.

22.

ENHANCED DUE DILIGENCE PROCESS 22.1 What is Enhanced Due Diligence?

22.1.1 Enhanced due diligence (EDD) is an in-depth and extensive investigation of a client’s particular characteristics, risk factors and other available information and documentation.
EDD procedures must be considered for clients designated as high risk, politically exposed persons (PEPs), cash intensive business and trusts, charities and complex organizations.

EDD should be conducted on clients deemed to pose high risks for money laundering, terrorist financing and the financing of proliferation.

EDD records/files or alerted transactions are subject to a higher, more frequent level of scrutiny.
22.1.2 New or existing clients that pose higher money laundering or terrorist financing risks tend to increase the overall risk profile to the financial institution.

To this end, it is imperative that the financial institution mitigate and manage these risks.

As such, the firm must have well-defined escalation and EDD processes and procedures in place.

22.2 When must EDD be carried out?

22.2.1 EDD is required where the customer and product/service combination is considered a much greater/high risk.
The EDD, as a higher level of due diligence, is required to mitigate the increased risk (i.e.

increased opportunity for ML/TF through the service/product the firm is providing the client).

The EDD procedure is not one size fit all, instead, it depends on the nature and severity of the risks.

As such, the additional due diligence can take many forms including additional information to verify the client’s identity; source of income; adverse media check etc.
The additional checks are proportionate and relative to the risks identified.

If it is © 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 63 an existing client and adverse information makes it way to the firm, sometimes it may even take investigative services to ascertain its credibility and inform the firm’s decision on the next steps/appropriate action.

EDD is a risk mitigating/risk management tool.


There are a number of situations that can give rise to increased risks (for example, not meeting clients face to face; dealing with a PEP; offering Trust services etc).

22.3 Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs) 22.3.1 Caution must be taken when dealing with PEPs; a special category of High Risk clients.
At the out-set of the client/business relationship, the firm should:    Identify all PEPs within the client data base; Identify the Country that each PEP is associated; Determine the type of PEP (i.e., foreign, domestic or person entrusted with a prominent function by an international organization);      Identify the type of business, industry, personal financial situation of each PEP; Identify each PEPs affiliation, employment, association, etc; Develop a profile of each PEPs transactions; Determine each PEPs expected vs actual transactions; and Identify and investigate transactions that are outside the norm, or which are high risk.
22.3.2 Accounting firms are cautioned that PEPs may expose their businesses to significant risks.

These risks, whether reputational, legal etc.

can be extremely detrimental and costly.

Such incidences usually occur when these persons abuse their public office.

Hence, systems should be in place to ensure ongoing monitoring of PEPs.
Due to the continual evolution of the sanctions lists and PEPs databases (additions as well as deletions), these lists should be consulted as a part of the firm’s on-going monitoring of its clients 22.4 Enhanced Due Diligence for High Risk Clients 22.4.1 In addition to the due diligence procedures for low risk clients (see section 21 above), an accounting firm is required to perform enhanced due diligence in those circumstances where it knows or suspects that there is a greater propensity for illicit activity.
This should become evident during the course of a risk categorization exercise where certain persons, products or services are deemed high risk.

Where the National Risk Assessment (NRA) identifies high risk, the accounting firm should include the findings in their risk assessment and implement enhance measures to mitigate the risks.
© 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 64 22.4.2 The following activities (in addition to obtaining the verification information, evidence and documents required by Section 20) should form part of the firm’s enhanced due diligence procedures in order to determine the circumstances in which a client is deemed to be high risk: (1) Determining when the client is a high risk Establish procedures to determine when, either during the establishment of the business relationship, or during the course of the relationship, the person is deemed high risk.
(2) Institute an approvals hierarchy for establishing relationships with high risk clients and PEPS depending on the size and management structure of the firm In the case of larger firms, in addition to the MLRO, approval must be obtained from Senior Management to: a) establish the business relationship; and b) continue the relationship with the client who subsequent to establishing the relationship, is found to be or becomes high risk.
(3) Develop a profile of the high risk client and ascertain the expected activity.

This profile should be regularly reviewed and updated as necessary.

The process of determining a high risk profile would include how to deal with clients from jurisdictions whose AML standards are not equivalent to the requirements found in Bahamian law.

In the case of PEPs this is particularly important when dealing with clients from high risk jurisdictions e.g.
‘High Intensity Financial Crimes Area’ in the United States and areas that are undergoing political instability or that have a history of such.

(4) Maintain on-going monitoring of transactions for high risk clients The accounting firm should ensure that all transactions are closely monitored on an ongoing basis.

The procedures for monitoring high-risk clients should be reasonably capable of detecting any changes in the way the facility is being operated.
© 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 65 22.5 Enhanced Due Diligence for Higher Risk Countries 22.5.1 Accounting firms should apply enhanced due diligence measures to business relationships and transactions with natural and legal persons and financial institutions from countries which FATF stipulates as high risk countries.

The type of enhanced due diligence applied should be effective and proportionate to the risks.
Information regarding advice and concerns about weaknesses in the AML systems of other countries may be obtained from the FATF website18 23 RELIANCE ON THIRD PARTY (OR ELIGIBLE) INTRODUCERS 23.1 Who Is A Third Party / An Eligible Introducer?
23.1.1 A third party / eligible introducer is any one of the following:   in the case of The Bahamas any other financial institution under section 3 and 4 of the FTRA; or any foreign financial institution from a reputable jurisdiction who themselves are supervised or monitored for AML that is regulated by a body having equivalent regulatory and supervisory responsibilities as the Central Bank, the Securities Commission, the Insurance Commission, the Inspector of Financial and Corporate Services and the Gaming Board; or  any other foreign financial institution from a jurisdiction outside of The Bahamas which has been designated by the Commission as having an equivalent or higher AML regulatory framework to that which exists under Bahamian law and which is also regulated by a body having equivalent regulatory and supervisory responsibilities as the Central Bank, the Securities Commission, the Insurance Commission, the Inspector of Financial and Corporate Services or the Gaming Board.
23.1.

2 Accounting firms are prohibited from relying on third parties located in higher risk countries that have identified as having on-going or substantial ML/TF risks.

Firms must satisfy themselves, prior to establishing the facility, that the eligible introducer meets the specified requirements set out in accordance with the guidance of this section.
18 www.fatf-gafi.org/publ © 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 66 23.2 Circumstances in which the firm may rely on a verification carried out by an eligible introducer to satisfy its primary obligation to verify a client: 23.2.1 Accountants and accounting firms must retain adequate documentation19 to demonstrate that its KYC/due diligence procedures have been fully implemented, and that the necessary verification of the clients(s) have been executed.
Depending on the circumstances, the firm may need to rely on a third-party (an eligible introducer independent or part of the same group) to undertake client due diligence measures.

These measures must be in accordance with section 6(3) and sections 7-9 and 14 of the FTRA, except: (a) where the third party is suspected of breach of the identified risk framework as defined; or (b) where the relevant facility holder has committed any offence designated as an identified risk.
23.2.2 Accountants and accounting firms relying on a third party (domestically or within a foreign jurisdiction) shall immediately obtain all necessary information and documentation from the third party, including the identity of each facility holder and beneficial owner.
Accountants and accounting firms are also required to take adequate steps to ensure that the third party will upon request, provide copies of all relevant documentation without delay and is subject to AML obligations and is under supervision for compliance of these obligations.

Further, there must be no obstacles which would prevent the accounting firm from obtaining the original documentation.
23.2.3 Notwithstanding the above, the ultimate responsibility for verifying the identity of a client rests with the firm.

While firms may rely on the due diligence carried out by a third party to satisfy its primary duty to verify identity, the firm should remain responsible for compliance with the FTRA and its regulations, including all requisite reporting requirements.
23.2.4 Accountants and accounting firms should have screening mechanism in place to satisfy itself as to the third party’s reputation and integrity based on publicly available information and as to such other matters regarding the third party i.e., subject to adequate AML laws and regulation in the context of its dealings with clients and is supervised for compliance with such regulation and hailing from a reputable jurisdiction.

23.2.5 N.B.
23.2.5 N.B.

This exception from having to obtain full verification documentation is subject to the overriding statutory obligation20 to carry out verification in any case where the accounting firm suspects that a transaction involves the proceeds of criminal conduct or is destined for financing terrorist activities.

19 Adequate documentation according to substantive laws of The Bahamas.
20 Section 25(1) of the FTRA © 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 67 23.3 Eligible introductions where a facility is being established 23.3.1 In the case of facilities, eligible introductions are permitted in the following circumstances- (i) Establishment of facilities by telephone, internet or by written communication: Where an individual, corporate entity or partnership makes a request to establish a facility by telephone, internet or by written communication, the accounting firm must verify, in accordance with the FTRR, the identity of that individual, corporate entity or partnership for whom the facility is being established.
Notwithstanding the paragraph above, the accounting firm may rely on the verification of the identity of the individual, corporate entity or partnership in accordance with regulation 9 of the FTRR.
(ii) Arrangements between Existing Facilities: In the case of arrangements between two facilities which accommodate the conduct of transactions between them (whether held by the same or different financial institutions), the duty to verify identity is met once all such steps as are reasonably necessary to confirm the existence of the other facility have been taken.
For example, where a client engages the services of an accounting firm to receive periodic deposits on its behalf from an account it (the client) has at an eligible introducer bank, the accounting firm may rely on the fact that it has confirmed the existence of such a facility, to discharge its primary obligation to verify.
The records to be maintained in this situation are those that are reasonably necessary to enable the identity of the other eligible introducer (in this case the bank), the identity of the facility and the identity confirmation of the person; and (iii) Corporate Group Introductions: Accounting firms may rely on a third party that is part of the same group and the group has applied customer due diligence, record-keeping and politically exposed persons requirements and programs against Ml/TF in accordance with internal controls and foreign branches and subsidiaries and that it is supervised at the group level by a competent authority (the Commission in the case of The Bahamas).
Further, that any higher country risk is adequately mitigated by the groups AML/CFT policies and procedures.

23.3.2 Where a facility has been established by any of the foregoing means, there is no need to carry out an independent verification of the client.
However, the accounting firm is obliged to obtain and have on record an original letter from the eligible introducer: © 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 68  containing information which identifies the facility holder and any beneficiaries or relevant beneficial owners, his (the facility holder) authority to act in those cases where he is not the ultimate beneficial owner and the purpose and intended nature of the business relationship;  advising that it (the eligible introducer) has verified the client being introduced and is in possession of the necessary verification information and documentary evidence sufficient to satisfy the requirements of the substantive AML laws in The Bahamas.
The letter from the eligible introducer must also provide an undertaking to supply to the firm upon request, immediately and without delay, copies of such evidence and documentation.

23.3.3 In appropriate circumstances the firm may also seek to obtain directly from the client details regarding the source of income/funds, purpose, use, potential activity and other parameters for the operation of the facility, and document these.
The fact that while the on-boarding has its genesis by way of eligible introduction, the firm must still monitor the client/facility as a part of its risk management in preparation to respond to any changes that would impact the ML/TF risks.

23.4 Eligible introductions where an occasional transaction (i.e.

sums at or above the $15,000 threshold) is being attempted/conducted 23.4.1.
An occasional transaction, whether such transaction is single or linked, is one in which the sum involved is equal to or not exceeding $15,000 and where the person purporting to conduct the transaction, or on whose behalf the transaction is being conducted, is not a facility holder of the firm.

(Reference FTRR).
(Reference FTRR).

23.4.2 Written confirmation certifying that the eligible introducer has carried out the required verification by law, may be used to satisfy the primary obligation on the accounting firm to verify identity, where cash $15,000 or more is involved in a transaction being conducted by or on behalf of a non-facility holder.

23.4.3 Only eligible introducers can issue written confirmation, i.e.

those entities outlined in section 23.1.1 above.


23.4.4 The circumstances involving cash of $15,000 or more in which reliance may be placed on a written of confirmation issued by another eligible introducer financial institution certifying that it (the eligible introducer financial institution) has carried out the required verification are set out below.
(1) Where a deposit is made into a facility that is provided for the accounting firm by an eligible introducer financial institution and the accounting firm is © 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 69 unable to determine if such a deposit involved cash of $15,000 or more.
An example of this is where a facility holder client makes a deposit directly into a bank account of the accounting firm, then the accounting firm can rely on written confirmation from the bank that it (the Bank) has carried out the verification of the person making the deposit; (2) Reliance can be placed on written confirmation of an eligible introducer e.g.
a bank, which conducts a cash transaction of $15,000 or more on behalf of another person with the accounting firm that it (the bank) has carried out the required verification on the party on whose behalf it is acting; and (3) An accounting firm can rely on a written confirmation from an eligible introducer (e.g.
a bank) that it (the bank) has carried out the required verification on a non-facility holder who has conducted a cash transaction of $15,000 or more with the accounting firm by means of a facility which that verification subject has with the bank.
The records to be kept in such eventuality should indicate:    the identity of the eligible introducer; the identity of that facility; and the identity confirmation of the person.21 24 24.1 MONITORING OF FACILITIES Accounting firms are expected to maintain systems and controls in place to monitor, on an ongoing basis, the relevant activities in the course of the business relationship to ensure consistency with stated facility purposes and activities and be aware of any changes in the course of the relationship.
The nature and sophistication of this monitoring will depend on the nature of the business.

The purpose of this monitoring is for accounting firms to be vigilant for any significant changes or inconsistencies in the pattern of transactions, having regard to, amongst other things, its knowledge of the customer, its business and risk profile and where necessary, the source of funds.

Inconsistency is measured against the stated original purpose of the facility.
Areas to monitor could be: (a) (b) (c) (b) (c) client profile Transactions (type, frequency, amount) identify and detect suspicious transaction/activity geographical origin/destination any changes in beneficial ownership 21 Section 6 (2), FTRA.
© 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 70 (d) (e) facility signatories report to the appropriate regulatory and enforcement authorities 24.2 It is recognized that the most effective method of monitoring facilities is achieved through a combination of computerized and human manual solutions.
A corporate risk-based and compliance culture, properly trained, vigilant staff through their day-to-day dealing with clients, will form an effective monitoring method as a matter of course.

24.3 Accounting firms should, to the extent possible, examine the circumstances of complex and unusual, large transcations or unusual patterns of transactions, that have no apparent or visible economic or lawful purpose and document their findings.
Transaction monitoring is an on-going review of transaction data to look for outlying patterns and/or unusual activity.

24.4 A formal analysis of all high risk clients should be conducted taking into account the transaction history, comparision of expected verses actual activity, and documents results and action taken.

All records must be maintained for a minimum period of five years (Refer to sections 15 to 18 of the FTRA and section 28 of this Code).
24.5 Having regard to the size, volume of financial services business and complexity of such business, firms should ensure that documents, data or information collected under the due diligence process is kept up-to-date and relevant, through periodic reviews of existing records, particularly for high risk clients.

The process by which records are kept current should be documented as part of the record-keeping policies.

25.
25.

25.1 OUTSOURCING OF MATERIAL FUNCTIONS The Commission is aware that the size, nature, complexity and resources of various accounting firms may warrant the need to outsource certain material functions of the firm.

While AML compliance functions may be performed by third parties, the ultimate responsibility for complying with AML, CDD or EDD rest with the firm.

25.2 Accountants/ accounting firms must ensure that the outsourcing agreement is in writing and signed off by all concerned parties.
The outsourcing agreement with a third party should be reviewed and updated as necessary to ensure that it continues to address accurately the outsourced function, the role of the third party to whom the outsourced function has been designated.
25.3 Specific task such as the Compliance function may be outsourced, but they must remain subject to appropriate oversight by the Head of Compliance and/or the Compliance © 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 71 Committee.

DNFBPs should ensure that any arrangements of an outsourced function do not impede the effective supervision of the Commission.
Regardless of the extent to which specific tasks of the compliance function are outsourced, senior management remains responsible for full compliance with all AML laws, guidelines and regulations.
VIII INFORMATION SHARING 26 26.1 Group Level Information Sharing From a regulatory perspective, while there are international requirements and obligations for mutual legal assistance and international co-operation vis-à-vis the exchange of information in keeping with Recommendations 37-40, the Commission executes its obligations while being cognizant of its powers, and commitment in accordance with the laws of The Bahamas.
26.2 From an accounting firm perspective, branches should be required to implement firm-wide programmes against ML/TF, which should be applicable, and appropriate to, all branches.
These should include the measures taken against ML/TF risks already established in these Codes, in addition to the under-noted measures: (i) policies and procedures for sharing information required for the purposes of CDD and ML/TF risk management; (ii) the provision, at firm-wide compliance, audit, and/or AML functions, of customer, account, and transaction information from branches when necessary for AML purposes; and (iii) adequate safeguards on the confidentiality and use of information exchanged.
26.3 Accounting firms are required to ensure that their foreign branches apply adequate AML measures consistent with home country requirements where the minimum AML requirements of the host country are less strict than those of the home country, to the extent that the host country laws and regulations permit.
If the host country does not permit the proper implementation of AML measures consistent with the home country requirements, firms should be required to apply appropriate additional measures to manage the ML/TF risks, and inform their home supervisors.
© 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 72 IX COMBATING THE FINANCING OF TERRORISM & PROLIFERATION 27 Targeted Financial Sanctions Related to Terrorism and Terrorist Financing 27.1 FATF Interpretive Note to Recommendation 6.6 (c) stipulates that countries should have mechanisms for communicating designations to financial institutions and DNFBPs – immediately upon taking such action, and providing clear guidance to financial institutions and other persons or entities, including DNFBPs, that may be holding targeted funds or other assets, on their obligations in taking action under freezing mechanisms.
To this end, the Commission, following the procedures established by law, reference section 2.3 of this Code, will notify its constituents immediately upon any such actions being taken from a national perspective.
Further, FATF Interpretive Note to Recommendation 6.6 (d) states that financial institutions, including DNFBPs, are required to report to competent authorities any assets frozen or actions taken in compliance with the prohibition requirements of the relevant Security Council resolutions, including attempted transactions, and ensure effective utilization of the information by the competent authorities.

Accounting firms are advised to take note of FATF Recommendations 27 and 35.
27.2 Targeted Financial Sanctions Related to Proliferation 27.2.1 FATF Interpretive Note to Recommendation Note 7.1 requires countries to implement targeted financial sanctions to comply with the UNSC resolutions that requires countries to freeze, without delay, the funds or other assets of, as well as to ensure that no funds and other assets are made available to, and for the benefit of, any person or entity designated by the UNSC under Chapter VII.
This is in accordance with the Security Council resolutions that relate to the prevention and disruption of the financing of proliferation of mass destruction.
27.2.2 The Bahamas, in order to discharge its responsibilities in keeping with FATF Interpretive Note to Recommendation 7.1, depends on financial institutions that come in contact with clients or funds (including attempted transactions) suspected or linked to proliferation financing, to report to the competent authorities, without delay, actions taken or funds frozen in compliance with the prohibition requirements of the relevant UN Security Council resolutions.
This will facilitate and ensure timely and effective utilization of the information by the competent authorities (Reference section 3 of this Code).

© 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 73 X.

RECORD KEEPING PROCEDURES 28.

Statutory requirements to maintain records 28.1 Accounting firms shall maintain all books and records concerning customer identification and transactions for use as evidence in any investigation into AML.
This is an essential component of the audit trail procedures.

Often, the only significant role a financial institution can play in an investigation is through the provision of relevant records, particularly where the money launderer or person financing terrorism or proliferation has used a complex web of transactions, specifically for the purpose of confusing the audit trail.
The objective of the statutory requirements detailed in the following paragraphs is to ensure that the accounting firm can, as part of its audit trail, provide the authorities with such records and supporting information on a timely basis when required to be disclosed by law.

28.1.2 Where an obligation exists to keep records, copies of the relevant documentation are sufficient, unless the law specifically requires otherwise.
It is important that the accounting firm satisfies itself that copies are reproductions of the original documentation.

The files should also indicate, in relevant circumstances, where the original can be located.
28.1.3 The records prepared and maintained by any accounting firm on its customer relationships and transactions should be such that:   requirements of legislation are fully met; competent third parties will be able to assess the firm’s observance of AML policies and procedures;  any transactions effected via the firm can be reconstructed; and  the firm can satisfy within a reasonable time any enquiries or court orders from the appropriate authorities for disclosure of relevant information.
28.2 Retention period to maintain verification records 28.2.1 Records relating to the verification of the identity of facility holders, including account files, business correspondence, and copies of all documents evidencing the identity of facility holders and beneficial owners, and the results of any analysis undertaken in accordance with the provisions of the FTRA, all of which shall be maintained for a period of five (5) years after the person ceases to be a facility holder.
In keeping with best practices, the date when a person ceases to be a facility holder is the date of: © 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 74  the carrying out of a one-off transaction or the last in the series of transactions; or   the ending of the business relationship, i.e.

the closing of the facility; or the commencement of proceedings to recover debts payable on insolvency.
28.2.2 Where formalities to end a business relationship have not been undertaken, but a period of five (5) years has elapsed since the date when the last transaction was carried out, then the five-year retention period commences on the date of the completion of the last transaction.
28.2.3 Records relating to the verification of the identity for any transaction conducted through a facility of an intermediary shall be maintained for a period of not less than five (5) years after the intermediary ceases to be a facility holder.
28.2.4 Where a firm verifies the identity of any person by confirming the existence of a facility provided by an eligible introducer financial institution, the records that must be maintained are such that they enable the FIU to identify, at any time, the identity of the eligible introducer financial institution, the identity of the relevant facility and the identity confirmation documentation of the verification subject.

28.3 Transaction records 28.3.1.


Records of transactions, both domestic and international, that are sufficient to permit reconstruction of each individual transaction for both account holders and non-account holder, shall be maintained for a period of not less than five (5) years from the date of the transaction.

28.3.2 Records of any findings pursuant to section 11(1)(a) of the FTRA and related transaction information shall be maintain for at least five years from the date of the transaction.

28.3.3.
28.3.3.

Records relating to on-going investigations, must be retained until it is confirmed by the FIU or local law enforcement agency that the case has been closed.

28.3.4 The investigating authorities also need to be able to establish a financial profile of any suspect facility.
For example, in addition to information on the beneficial owner of the facility and any intermediaries involved, the volume of funds flowing through the facility may be sought also as part of an investigation into money laundering or terrorist financing.

Further, in the case of selected transactions, information may be required on the origin of the funds (if known); the form in which the funds were offered or withdrawn, i.e.
cash, cheques, etc., © 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 75 the identity of the person undertaking the transaction, the destination of the funds, and the form of instruction and authority.
28.3.5 The transaction records which must be kept must include the following information:   the nature of the transaction; the amount of the transaction, and the currency in which it was denominated;   the date on which the transaction was conducted; the parties to the transaction;  where applicable, the facility through which the transaction was conducted, and any other facilities (whether or not provided by the accounting firm) directly involved in the transaction; and  all other files and business correspondence and records connected to the facility.
28.4 Format of records 28.4.1 Retention of verification and transaction records may be by way of original documents, or copied, stored on microfiche, computer disk or in other electronic form in keeping with the evolution of technology.

Records required to be kept by the Accounting firms pursuant to section 15 of the FTRA, shall be in written form in the English language, or in a form readily accessible and convertible in written form in the English language.
28.5 When records are not required to be kept 28.5.1 Special considerations for record retention on the liquidation of a financial institution.

28.5.2 Where a financial institution enters liquidation, the liquidator of the financial institution shall maintain for five (5) years from the date of the dissolution, such records that would otherwise have been required to be kept by the financial institution but for the liquidation.
28.6 Mandatory destruction of records 28.6.1 Books and records and any copies thereof, pursuant to section 15(2) of the FTRA shall be maintained for not less than five (5) years after the business relationship has ended.
Notwithstanding this requirement, such records pursuant to section 17 of the FTRA shall be destroyed as soon as practicable after the expiration of the retention period, unless required to be maintained beyond this period by any other written law, for the business purposes of the accounting firm, or for the detection, investigation or prosecution of any offence.
© 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 76 28.7 Record keeping offences 28.7.1 Accounting firms in contravention of section 15 of the FTRA, without reasonable excuse, to retain or properly keep records, commits an offence under section 18 of the FTRA.

As such, accounting firms will be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding twenty (20) thousand dollars in the case of an individual and one hundred (100) thousand dollars in the case of a body corporate.
XI.

PROCEDURES FOR THE RECOGNITION AND REPORTING OF SUSPICIOUS TRANSACTIONS 29 THE FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE UNIT (FIU) 29.1 The national agency for receiving suspicious transaction reports (STRs) is the Financial Intelligence Unit (a sample copy of the STR is shown at Appendix D).

29.1.2 The FIU has power to compel production of information which it considers relevant to fulfill its functions.

29.1.3 It is an offence to fail or refuse to provide the information requested by the FIU.
Such offence is punishable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding $50,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to both such fine and imprisonment.

29.1.4 The FIU is empowered by the FIUA to issue Guidelines, from time to time to assist financial institutions with observance and implementation of STR procedures.

Copies of these Guidelines, which supplement and add to these Codes, are available from the FIU’s office and electronically from the FIU’s website.
29.2 Mandatory requirement to appoint a Money Laundering Reporting Officer 29.2.1 All accounting firms engaged in prescribed financial services are required by law22 to appoint a Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO) as a point of contact with the FIU, to handle reports of money laundering suspicions by their staff.

Accountants and accounting firms are instructed to pay close attention to the criteria outlined in these Codes when appointing the individual to hold the position of MLRO of the firm.
22 Reg.

5 of the FI(TR)R © 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 77 29.3 The MLRO must be registered with the FIU.

Accounting firms should ensure that any changes in this post are immediately communicated to the FIU and the Commission.
29.3.1 The Role of the MLRO The person appointed as the MLRO has significant responsibility to the firm and should be sufficiently senior to exercise the necessary authority, competent and familiar with statue laws governing the firm.

The size and nature of the firm should be a determining factor in selecting the individual to hold the position.

Larger firms may choose to appoint, as appropriate to the circumstances, a senior member of their compliance department.
In small firms, it may be appropriate to designate the sole practitioner or one of the partners.

When several subsidiaries operate closely together within a group, designating a single MLRO at group level is an option.

29.3.2 The MLRO should exercise independence when determining whether the information or other matters contained in the transaction report he/she has received, give rise to a knowledge or suspicion that someone is engaged in money laundering, terrorist and/or proliferation financing.
29.3.3 In making this judgment, the MLRO should consider all other relevant information available within the accounting firm concerning the person or business to whom the initial report relates.

This may include a review of other transaction patterns and volumes through the account(s) in the same name, the length of the business relationship, and referral to identification records held.
If, after completing this review, he decides that the initial report gives rise to a knowledge or suspicion of money laundering, then he must disclose this information to the FIU.

It is therefore imperative that the MLRO be granted timely access to customer verification and related due diligence information, transaction records and other relevant information.

29.3.4 The “determination” by the MLRO implies a process with at least some formality attached to it, however minimal that formality might be.
It does not necessarily imply that he must give his reasons for negating, and therefore not reporting any particular matter, but it clearly would be prudent, for his own protection, for internal procedures to require that only written reports are submitted to him and that he should record his determination in writing, and the underlying reasons therefore.

29.3.5 The MLRO will be expected to act honestly and reasonably and to make his determinations in good faith.
© 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 78 29.3.6 The Commission has oversight of a diverse group of business types and sizes.

In practical terms, designated accounting firms (or relevant profession) may vary from the sole proprietorship to large businesses with huge organizational structures.

Nonetheless, each MLRO should diligently perform the requisite duties in the most professional manner.
This area will be reviewed during the on-site examination of the firm.

29.3.7 Financial institutions supervised by the Commission are at liberty to appoint a person to serve as MLRO once they are satisfied that the individual meets at least the core competencies outlined below, i.e.
the MLRO should:  have a sound understanding of what constitute money laundering, terrorist and proliferation financing;  have a clear understanding of the inherent risks and vulnerabilities of his financial institution;  have a basic knowledge of AML laws, rules and regulations in The Bahamas and international laws which may affect the operations of the firm;  be given sufficient authority and independence to perform his duties;  to the extent possible, be a Senior Officer within his institution; and  be exposed to AML training at least once annually.
29.3.8 During the routine and/or random on-site examination, the Commission will determine whether the financial institution has complied with the above requirements.

29.4 Mandatory requirement to appoint a Compliance Officer 29.4.1 An accounting firm is also required, by law, to appoint a Compliance Officer (CO).

The designated CO must be at senior management level to be responsible for the implementation of and on-going maintenance of the identified risk, internal procedures and controls of the firm.
However, the firm may choose to combine the roles of the CO with the MLRO depending upon the size and nature of prescribed financial services that it is involved in.

29.5 Recognition of Suspicious Transactions 29.5.1 A suspicious transaction will often be one which is inconsistent with a customer’s known, legitimate business or personal activities or with the normal business for that type of facility.
Therefore, the first key to recognition is knowing enough about the customer’s business to recognize that a transaction, or series of transactions, is unusual.

Efforts to recognize © 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 79 suspicious circumstances should commence with the request to open a facility or execute the initial transaction.
29.5.2 Section 12 (2) of the POCA requires that any person who knows, suspects or reasonably ought to have known or suspected that another person is engaged in money laundering or committing an offence related to an identified risk; proceeds of drug trafficking or any related crime, and fails to report such knowledge or suspicion is guilty of an offence.
29.5.3 Under the FTRA section 25 where any person conducts or seeks to conduct any transaction by, through or with a financial institution (whether or not the transaction or proposed transaction involves cash), and the financial institution knows, suspects or has reasonable grounds to suspect that the transaction or the proposed transaction involves proceeds of criminal conduct as defined in the POCA, or any offence under the POCA, the financial institution MLRO shall, as soon as practical after forming that suspicion, report that transaction or proposed transaction to the FIU.
29.5.4 Whistleblowing is an important mechanism in the prevention and detection of improper conduct, fraud and corruption.

The firm should implement an appropriate policy, which shall raise awareness of the whistleblowing process and raise concerns about improper conduct within in the firm.

The policy shall outline the mechanisms for the protection of employees who make such disclosure and the strategies implemented to address such matters as reporting, responsibility and confidentiality.
29.6 Internal Reporting of Suspicious Transactions 29.6.1 The FI(TR)R requires accounting firms to establish clear responsibilities and accountabilities to ensure that policies, procedures, and controls which deter criminals from using their facilities for money laundering, are implemented and maintained.
29.6.2 All accounting firms offering prescribed financial services operating within or from The Bahamas are required to: i. introduce procedures for the prompt investigation of suspicions and subsequent reporting of same to the FIU; ii.

provide the MLRO with the necessary access to systems and records to fulfill this requirement; and iii.

establish close co-operation and liaison with the FIU and the Commission.
29.6.3 There is a statutory obligation on all staff to report suspicions of money laundering to the MLRO in accordance with internal procedures.

However, in line with accepted practice some © 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 80 accounting firms may choose to require that such unusual or suspicious transactions be drawn simultaneously to the attention of supervisory management to ensure that there are no known facts that will negate the suspicion.
29.6.4 All accounting firms have a clear obligation to ensure:  that each relevant employee knows to which person he should report suspicions; and,  that there is a clear reporting chain under which those suspicions will be passed without delay to the MLRO.

29.6.5 Once an employee has reported his suspicion to the MLRO, he has fully satisfied his statutory obligation.
29.7 Procedure for reporting suspicious transactions to the FIU 29.7.1 The Form at Appendix D should be used for reporting suspicious transactions to the FIU.

The report shall be in prescribed form23 (if any); contain the details specified in the First Schedule of the FTRA; contain a statement of the grounds on which the accounting firm holds the suspicion according to the Act.
The disclosure can be forwarded to the FIU in writing, by hand, by way of facsimile message or by electronic mail, and in cases of urgency, reports may be made orally.

However, this should still be followed by a written report.

29.7.2 Sufficient information should be disclosed which indicates the nature of and reason for the suspicion.

Where the accounting firm has additional relevant evidence that could be made available, the nature of this evidence should also be clearly indicated.
29.7.3 The receipt of a disclosure will be acknowledged by the FIU.

Normally, completion of a transaction will not be interrupted.

However, in exceptional circumstances, such as the imminent arrest of a client and consequential restraint of assets, the accounting firm may be required by the FIU to discontinue the transaction or cease activity related to the client’s facility.
29.7.4 Following receipt of a disclosure and initial research by the FIU, if appropriate, the information disclosed is allocated to financial investigation officers in the FIU for further investigation.

This is likely to include seeking supplementary information from the accounting firm making the disclosure, and from other sources.

Discrete enquiries are then 23 A electronic copy of the Form is available on the FIU’s website.
© 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 81 made to confirm the basis for suspicion.

The client is not approached in the initial stages of investigating a disclosure and will not be approached unless criminal conduct is identified.

29.7.5 Access to the disclosure is restricted to financial analysts and other officers within the FIU.
It is also recognised that as a result of a disclosure, an accounting firm may leave itself open to risks as a constructive trustee if moneys are paid away other than to the true owner.

The accounting firm must therefore make a commercial decision as to whether funds which are the subject of any suspicious report (made either internally or to the FIU) should be paid away under instruction from the facility holder.
29.7.6 Accounting firms are reminded that reporting to the Commission, the Central Bank, the Commissioner of Police and any duly authorized employee of the accounting firm will be accorded similar protection against breach of confidentiality.

It is therefore recommended that, to reduce the risk of constructive trusteeship when fraudulent activity is suspected, and to obtain the fastest possible FIU response, disclosure should be notified by telephone and the disclosure form forwarded to the FIU.
Where timing is believed to be critical, an accounting firm should prepare a backup package of evidence for rapid release on the granting of a Court Order, search warrant, or a freezing order pursuant to the Section 4(2)(c) of the FIUA.
29.7.7 Following the submission of a disclosure report, an accounting firm is not precluded from subsequently terminating its relationship with the client provided it does so for commercial or risk containment reasons and does not alert the client to the fact of the disclosure which would constitute the offence of tipping off under the FTRA.
However, it is recommended that, before terminating a relationship in these circumstances, the reporting institution should liaise directly with the investigation officer in the FIU to ensure that the termination does not tip off the customer or prejudice the investigation in any way.

29.7.8 The adequacy of the accounting firm’s AML program to identify and properly report suspicious activity should be periodically reviewed.
29.8 Feedback from the FIU 29.8.1 The provision of general feedback to the financial sector on the volume and quality of disclosures and on the levels of successful investigations arising from the disclosures will be provided on a regular basis by the FIU.
29.8.2 Where applicable, accounting firms should ensure that all contact between particular departments/branches with the FIU and law enforcement agencies is reported back to the © 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 82 MLRO so that an informed overview of the situation can be maintained.

In addition, the FIU will continue to provide information on request to a disclosing institution in order to establish the current status of a specific investigation.
29.9 TIPPING OFF 29.9.1 Preliminary enquiries of a client in order to verify his identity or to ascertain the source of funds or the precise nature of the transaction being undertaken will not trigger a tipping off offence before an STR has been submitted in respect of that client unless the enquirer knows that an investigation is underway or the enquires are likely to prejudice and investigation.
29.9.2 In cases where the accountant/accounting firm forms a suspicion of ML/TF, and it is reasonably believed that performing a CDD process will tip-off the client, the firm should proceed to file an STR with the FIU.

Hence, it should be noted that failure to satisfactorily complete the CDD process, the commencement of the business relationship or performance of the transaction should cease.
29.9.3 Pursuant to section 14 of the Proceeds of Crime Act, 2018, a person commits an offence if he knowns or suspects that an STR has already been filed with the FIU, the police or other authorized agency and it becomes necessary to make further enquires, such individual tips off the client(s) that their names have been brought to the attention of the authorities and or an investigation is being carried out.

29.9.3.
29.9.3.

Pursuant to section 16 & 18 of POCA, accounting firms and their partners, offices and employees are protected by law from both criminal and civil liability for breach of any restriction on disclosure of information imposed by contract or by any legislative, regulatory or administrative provision, if they report their suspicions in good faith to the FIU.

© 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 83 XII.
STAFF RECRUITMENT, EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROCEDURES 30 KNOW YOUR EMPLOYEE (KYE) PROCEDURES 30.1 The financial services industry in The Bahamas, as in any other jurisdiction, is challenged with managing a diverse range of risks such as reputational, legal, operational etc.
Consequently, in addition to financial institutions implementing proper procedures to mitigate risk from external forces, attention should also be placed on potential risks posed to financial institutions from internal forces such as from their employees.

Appropriate procedures, including those for screening, should be implemented and documented for the hiring of employees.
In this regard, the Commission offers some guidance to its constituent financial institutions which may be useful in managing the related risks.

30.2 The screening process for hiring new employees should seek to ensure that employees do not perform any function that causes harm in relation to the execution of their function for the firm.
To this end, the firm’s screening process, for the employees, must allow the firm to be comfortable with the employee’s:  personal character (honesty, integrity and reputation)  competence (able to effectively execute the functions of the position)  qualifications (the required experience, knowledge and training) The screening process should include, but is not limited to:  background and employment historical checks;  police record;  reference checks, including character and financial references (or equivalent) and  Qualification verification (as applicable, e.g.
degrees, certifications).

30.3 For all employees, continued monitoring is encouraged to ensure they remain fit for employment.

Employers should consider monitoring employees who are suspected of being linked to:  unusual transaction activities;  unusual increases in business activities; and  persons known to be involved in illegal activities or associated with individuals of known questionable character.
© 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 84 30.4 The most effective KYE programme should be complemented by a sound on-going training programme which includes staff awareness.

31.
31.

STAFF AWARENESS PROGRAMMES 31.1 Accounting firms must take appropriate measures to familiarize all of their employees with: i. policies and procedures designed to detect and prevent money laundering including those for identification, record keeping and internal reporting, and any legal requirements in respect thereof; and ii training programmes which incorporates the recognition and handling of suspicious transactions.
31.2 Staff must be aware of their own personal AML statutory obligations including the fact that they can be personally liable for failure to report information in accordance with internal procedures.

All staff should be encouraged to co-operate fully and to provide a prompt report of any suspicious transactions without fear of reprisal.

31.3 It is important that all accounting firms covered by this Code introduce adequate measures to ensure that staff members are fully aware of their responsibilities.
To strengthen the firm’s position, the Commission strongly recommends that employees are requested to sign a confirmation document to indicate that they have read the Codes of Practice and any other requisite manual that the employee is expected to be familiar with etc.

32.

STAFF EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAMMES 32.1 Timing and content of training for various sectors of staff will need to be adapted by individual firms suitable for their own needs.
It will also be necessary to make arrangements for refresher training at regular intervals, i.e.

at least annually to ensure that staff members remain current with their responsibilities.

32.2 The Commission hosts a number of AML training seminars each year for its constituents.
The following training guideline is recommended: 32.2.1 New employees 32.2.1-1 A basic training course on money laundering and terrorist financing, including relevant typologies and the subsequent need for reporting any suspicious transactions to the MLRO should be provided to all new employees within the first month of their employment.
This is © 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 85 particularly critical for persons who will be dealing with clients or their transactions, irrespective of the level of seniority.

They should be made aware that there is a legal requirement to report suspicion and that there is a personal statutory obligation in this respect.
They should also be provided with a copy of the written policies and procedures in place in the firm for the reporting of suspicious transactions.
32.2.2 Frontline Staff that deal directly with the public for the purpose of receiving and making payments, deposits etc., such as cashiers/ accounts officers 32.2.2-1 Members of staff who are dealing directly with the public are the first point of contact with potential money launderers and their efforts are therefore vital to the organization’s reporting system for such transactions.
Training should be provided on factors that may give rise to suspicions and the procedures to be adopted when a transaction is deemed to be suspicious.

32.2.2-2 All frontline staff should be made aware of their financial institution’s policy for dealing with non-clients, including those that wish to conduct a transaction in relation to a client facility holder, particularly where large cash transactions, travelers’ cheques or postal money orders are involved.
They should be reminded of the need for extra vigilance in these instances.

32.2.2-3 In addition to the above, further training should be provided regarding the need to verify a customer’s identity and on the business’ own facility creation and client verification procedures.

All employees should be familiarized with the firm’s suspicious transaction reporting procedures.
32.2.3 Administration/operations supervisors and managers 32.2.3-1 A higher level of instruction covering all aspects of money laundering procedures should be provided to those with the responsibility for supervising or managing staff in the foregoing categories.
This will include the offences and penalties arising from the POCA and the FTRA for non-reporting and for assisting money launderers; procedures relating to the service of production and restraint orders; internal reporting procedures; the requirements for verification of identity; the retention of records and disclosure of suspicious transaction reports under the FIUA (See Appendix C for a summary of these offences).
32.2.4 Money Laundering Reporting Officers (MLRO) / Compliance Officers (CO) 32.2.4-1 In-depth training concerning all aspects of the legislation and internal policies will be required for the MLRO and the CO.
In addition, these officers will require extensive initial © 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 86 and on-going instruction on the validation, investigation and reporting of suspicious transactions and on the feedback arrangements as well as on new trends and patterns of criminal activity.

The Commission further recommends that firms should encourage holders of these positions to pursue and maintain domestic and/or international certification.
© 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 87 APPENDIX A SUMMARY OF AML/CFT LAWS OF THE BAHAMAS The Proceeds of Crime Act, 2018 The Proceeds of Crime Act (“POCA”) criminalizes money laundering related to the proceeds of drug trafficking and other serious crimes.
This Act also provides for the confiscation of the proceeds of drug trafficking or any relevant offence as described in the Schedule to the Act; the enforcement of confiscation orders and investigations into drug trafficking, ancillary offences related to drug trafficking and all other relevant offences.

The law requires persons to inform the FIU, the Police and other relevant agencies of any suspicious transactions that come to light during the course of their employment, trade or business activities.
The Act provides immunity to such persons from legal action by clients aggrieved by the breach of confidentiality.

It should be noted that the reporting of suspicious transactions is mandatory and a person who fails to report a suspicious transaction is liable to prosecution.
The Financial Transactions Reporting Act, 2018 The Financial Transactions Reporting Act (“FTRA”) imposes mandatory obligations on designated financial institutions to: verify the identity of existing and prospective customers and clients; maintain verification and transaction records for prescribed periods; and to report suspicious transactions, which involve the proceeds of criminal conduct as defined by the Proceed of Crime Act to the Financial Intelligence Unit.
This Act also establishes the Compliance Commission, an independent statutory authority which has responsibility for ensuring that designated financial institutions that are not otherwise regulated, comply with the provisions of the Act.

These are outlined in Section 32(2) of the Act.

The Act also provides for the Minister to designate a self-regulatory organization (SRO) for a profession, as the AML supervisor, on the recommendation of the Commission.
The Financial Transactions Reporting Regulations, 2018 The Financial Transactions Reporting Regulations, 2018 inter alia, sets out the evidence that financial institutions must obtain in satisfaction of any obligation to verify the identity of a client or customer.
© 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 88 The Financial Intelligence Unit Act, 2000 The Financial Intelligence Unit Act, 2000 (as amended) establishes the FIU of The Bahamas which has power, inter alia, to receive, analyze and disseminate information, which relates to or may relate to the proceeds of offences under the Proceed of Crime Act.
The Financial Intelligence (Transactions Reporting) Regulations, 2001 The Financial Intelligence (Transactions Reporting) Regulations, 2001 requires financial institutions to establish and maintain identification, record-keeping, and internal reporting procedures, including the appointment of a MLRO and Compliance Officer.
These Regulations also require financial institutions to provide appropriate training for relevant employees to make them aware of the statutory provisions relating to money laundering and impose sanctions for failure to comply with Guidelines and Codes issued by the Regulators or the FIU.

The Anti-Terrorism Act, 2018 The Anti-Terrorism Act (“ATA”), criminalizes terrorist activities and the financing of terrorism and punishes offenders in or outside The Bahamas.
It also prohibits the collecting of funds for terrorist/criminal purposes.

Further, it makes persons responsible for the management or control of a legal entity that are involved with terrorist actions liable.

The Act imposes a duty to report any suspicion to the Commissioner of Police regarding funds to be used to facilitate terrorism.

The freezing of funds, forfeiture orders, sharing of forfeited funds and extradition that are related to terrorist movements are prescribed under the Act.
© 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 89 REGISTRATION FORM FOR FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS SUPERVISED BY THE C O M P L I A N C E COMMISSION FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS REPORTING ACT, 2018 (section 33) APPENDIX B Name of Firm/Business ………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Date Firm/Business Established ..…………….……………….……………………………..……………………….. Street Address ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Postal Address …………………………….…..…………….E-mail Address .

…………………………………….
…………………………………….

Telephone No.

………………………………………….……… Fax No.

… … … … … … .

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Category of Financial Institution …………………………………………………………………………………….. .

(Reference page 3) Name of Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO) …………………………………………………………….. Name of Compliance Officer (CO) …………………………………………………………………………………….

Contact Person …………………….…….….…….……….……..

Position ……………………………………..


Affiliated Professional Body …………………………………………………………………………………………… Name of Beneficial Owner(s) ………………………………………………………………………………………...... N.B.
For the purpose of Beneficial Owner S.2 of the FTRA, stipulates “(a) a natural person who ultimately owns or controls a facility holder; (b) the natural person on whose behalf a transaction is being conducted; (c) a natural person who exercises ultimate effective control over a legal person or legal arrangement and (d) where no natural person is identified under subparagraphs (a), (b) or (c) the identity of the natural person who holds the position of senior managing official”.
Names of Directors: 1) …………………………………………………………6) …………………………………………………….. 2) ………………………………………………………….

7) …………………………………………………........ 3) …………………………………………………………8) …………………………………………………….. 4) …………………………………………………………9) ……………………………………………………… 5) ………………………………………………………..10) …………………………………………………….. Names of Partners: 1) ………………………………………………………….6) …………………………………………………….

2) …………………………………………………………..7) ………………………………………………….


© 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 90 3) ………………………………………………………….8) …………………………………………………….

4) …………………………………………………………..9)…………………………………………………… 5) ………………………………………………………….10) …………………………………………………… If registering as a group entity, please name each individual financial institution within the group.

Please attach a list of others if the space below is inadequate.
1) …………………..…………………………………… 6) ….…………….………………..……………….… 2) ………………………………………………………… 7) ………………………...…………………………… 3) ………………………………………………………… 8) ……………..………………….…………..……… 4) …………………………………………………………9) ……………..………………………….………..… 5) … ……………………………………………………..10) ……………..……………………..…………….… Name … …………………………………………… Signature …………………………………………………..

Date ……..……………………………………….

N. B.


In any case where the preceding activities form an integral part of the business services or products offered by a financial institution which is regulated by the Central Bank, the Securities Commission, the Registrar of Insurance or the Gaming Board, then for the purposes of the Financial Transactions Reporting Act, such institution is subject to the supervisory control of the regulator that has responsibility for its licensing.
Submit form to: E-mail: compliance@bahamas.gov.bs © 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 91 Financial Institutions Supervised by the Commission THE COMPLIANCE COMMISSION HAS BEEN DESIGNATED AS THE ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING SUPERVISORY AUTHORITY UNDER PART III OF THE FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS REPORTING ACT, 2018 FOR THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS LISTED BELOW.

1.

Friendly Society enrolled under the Friendly Societies Act, Chapter 313; 2.
Real Estate Agents and Brokers, when they are involved as real estate broker in financial transactions for their client concerning the buying or selling of real estate, and with respect to both the vendors and purchasers.

3.

Land developer engaged in the sale or partition or condominiumizing of any part, parcel, lot or condominium unit of any larger tract or lot of land or any development of land involving the building of units sharing walls, common areas and utilities.

4.
4.

A person whose business or any part of whose business consists of – (i) buying for the purpose of trade, sale, exchange, or otherwise dealing in any previously owned precious metals or precious stones, whether altering the same after acquisition or not: or (ii) lending of cash on the security of previously owned precious metals or precious stones of which the person take possession, but not ownership, in expectation of profit, gain or reward.

5.
5.

Trustees, administration managers or investment managers of a superannuation scheme.

6.

Any person in the business of borrowing or lending or investing money; 7.

Any person in the business of administering or managing funds on behalf of other persons; 8.

Any person in the business of acting as trustee in respect of funds of other persons; 9.
Any person in the business of providing financial services that involves the transfer or exchange of funds, including (without limitation) services relating to financial leasing, money transmissions, credit cards, debit cards, treasury certificates, bankers draft and other means of payment, financial guarantees, safekeeping of cash and liquid securities, and money changing; [this EXCLUDES the provision of financial services that consist solely of the provision of financial advice and security guard services within the meaning of the Inquiry Agents and Security Guards Act].
10.
A counsel and attorney or accountant when they engage in, or carry out transactions for a client concerning- (i) the buying and selling of real estate; (ii) a deposit or investment of cash; (iii) the management of client funds or securities; (iv) the management of bank, savings or securities accounts; (v) the organization of contributions for the creation, operation or management of a legal person; (vi) the creation, incorporation, operation or management of a legal person or legal arrangement, and buying and selling of a business entity; (vii) the provision of a registered office or acting as a registered agent; (viii) the acting as or arranging for another person to act as, a nominee shareholder for another person.
11.

An accountant, but only to the extent that the accountant receives cash in the course of that person’s business for the purposes of deposit or investment otherwise than as part of services rendered pursuant to a financial and corporate service provider’s licence.
THE ABOVE MENTIONED FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS ARE REQUIRED TO REGISTER WITH THE COMMISSION © 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 92 APPENDIX C Money Laundering /Terrorist Financing Offences, Penalties and Defences Money Laundering Offences The POCA establishes several specific money laundering offences and penalties.

In performing their functions, accounting firms should pay particular attention to the vulnerabilities of their service inherent in these offences.
N.B.

THE OFFENCES UNDER THE POCA APPLY TO ALL PERSONS AND ARE NOT LIMITED ONLY TO THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE AN ACCOUNTANT IS ACTING AS A FINANCIAL INSTITUTION.

THEY ARE THEREFORE APPLICABLE TO RELEVANT CIRCUMSTANCES AFFECTING THE GENERAL PRACTICE OF AN ACCOUNTANT UNLIKE THE FTRA WHICH IS RESTRICTED TO THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH AN ACCOUNTANT IS ACTING AS A FINANCIAL INSTITUTION.
In addition, there are many offences which arise from failing to comply with certain requests or obligations imposed under the FTRA, the Financial Intelligence Unit Act and the Regulations made pursuant to these Acts.

A matrix of these offences also appears hereunder.

(1) MONEY LAUNDERING OFFENCES, PENALTIES AND DEFENCES UNDER POCA For the purposes of the POCA, the term “criminal conduct” means conduct relating to the commission of any offence.
The term “property” under the POCA means, all property wherever situated and includes money, all forms of property, real or personal, heritable or moveable, things in action and other intangible or incorporeal property.
Offence Concealing (Section 9) Penalties Defences It is an offence to conceal, disguise, On summary conviction - A person does not commit an convert, or transfer the proceeds of imprisonment for a term not offence: any crime or remove the proceeds of exceeding 7 years or a fine if he makes an authorized any crime from The Bahamas.

not exceeding $500,000 or disclosure under section 19 For this offence, references to both.
and (if the disclosure is made concealing or disguising criminal On conviction on indictment before he does the act) he property includes concealing or - imprisonment for a term has the appropriate consent; disguising the proceeds of any not exceeding 20 years or a if he intended to make such a © 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 93 identified risk activity, nature, source, fine or both.
disclosure but had a location, disposition, movement or ownership or any rights with respect to the property.

This section applies where a person acts with knowledge or with reasonable suspicion.

Arrangements Concerning Proceeds of Crime (Section 10).
It is an offence for any person to enter into an arrangement if a person knows, suspects, or ought to reasonably have known or suspected that he has entered or is entering into an arrangement which facilitates, by whatever means, the acquisition, retention, use, concealment or the control of proceeds of crime by or on behalf of another person if he reasonable excuse for not doing so; or if he does an act for the purposes of carrying out his functions relating to the enforcement of any provision of this Act.
On summary conviction - A person does not commit an imprisonment for a term not offence: exceeding 7 years or a fine if he makes an authorized not exceeding $500,000 or disclosure under section 19 both.

and (if the disclosure is made before he does the act) he On conviction on indictment has the appropriate consent; - imprisonment for a term if he intended to make such a not exceeding 20 years or a disclosure but had a fine or both.
reasonable excuse for not doing so; or if he does an act for the purposes of carrying out his functions relating to the enforcement of any provision of this Act.
Offence Penalties Defences Acquisition, Possession Or Use (Section 11) On summary conviction - A person does not commit an It is an offence to acquire, use or possess the proceeds of crime if a person knows, suspects, or ought to imprisonment for a term not offence: exceeding 7 years or a fine if he makes an authorized not exceeding $500,000 or disclosure under section 19 reasonably have known or suspected both.

it was a proceed of crime.


and (if the disclosure is made before he does the act) he has On conviction on indictment the appropriate consent; - imprisonment for a term if he intended to make such a © 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 94 not exceeding 20 years or a disclosure but had a fine or both.

reasonable excuse for not doing so; or if he does an act for the purposes of carrying out his functions relating to the enforcement of any provision of this Act.
On summary conviction - A person does not commit an imprisonment for a term not offence: exceeding 12 years or a fine If he has a reasonable excuse not exceeding $500,000 or for not disclosing the both.

information or other matter; or If he does not reasonably On conviction on indictment know or suspect that another - imprisonment for a term person is engaged in money not exceeding 20 years or a laundering or an identified risk fine or both.

activity.
activity.

Failure To Disclose (Section 12) In order for an offence to be committed, three conditions must be satisfied.

First, the person must know or suspect or reasonably ought to have known or suspected that another person is engaged in money laundering or committing an offence related to an identified risk.

Second, the information on which his knowledge or suspicion is based or which gives reasonable grounds for such knowledge or suspicion came to him in the course of business.
Third, that he does not make the required disclosure as soon as is practicable after the information or other matter comes to him.

This section applies to a person, firm or sole practitioner engaged in accountancy, audit or taxation advice or legal services involving the participation in financial or real property transactions.
Tipping Off (Section 14) A person commits an offence if he knows or suspects that any disclosure regarding money laundering has been made or an action has been taken by On summary conviction - imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 years or a fine not exceeding $500,000 or © 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 95 the Financial Intelligence Unit relating both.
to money laundering and he makes a disclosure to another person which is On conviction on indictment likely to prejudice any investigation - imprisonment for a term which might be conducted following not exceeding 20 years or a the disclosures.

fine or both.

(2) MONEY LAUNDERING RELATED OFFENCES UNDER THE FTRA & FI(TR)R These offences relate to the various AML obligations imposed on financial institutions.
Offence Penalties Defences Failing or refusing to provide records, information or explanation when required to do so by the Commission (Section 34(2)) It is an offence for any person to fail On summary conviction – a fine or refuse to produce any record or not exceeding $50,000 or to supply any information or explanation as required by the Commission.

imprisonment not exceeding 3 years or both a fine and imprisonment.

On summary conviction – imprisonment for up to 5 years or a fine up to $500,000 or both.
Failure to Comply with Identification Requirements (Section 47) It is an offence for a financial institution which intentionally fails to undertake the identification of a facility holder or otherwise to fulfil the identification or other requirements of the facility holder in accordance with subsections (2) – (5) of section 6.
Recordkeeping Offences (Sections 18 and 47(d)) It is an offence for a financial not exceeding $20,000 maximum offence: On summary conviction – a fine A person does not commit an © 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 96 institution when it fails without for an individual and $100,000 if he can prove that he took reasonable excuse, to retain or to maximum in the case of a all reasonable steps to properly keep records.

corporation.
corporation.

ensure that he complied with It is an offence when a financial On summary conviction - circumstances of the institution intentionally fails to imprisonment for up to 5 years or particular case, he could not maintain books and records as a fine up to $500,000 or both.
reasonably have been that provision or that in the required by section 16, or destroys or removes such records, or fails to make such information available in a timely manner in response to a lawful request for such books or records.

Failure to Report Suspicious Transactions (Section 49) expected to ensure that he complied with the provision.
It is an offence for a financial On summary conviction – A person does not commit an institution which intentionally fails to imprisonment up to 5 years or a offence: submit a report to the Financial fine up to $500,000 or both.
if he can prove that he took Intelligence Unit as required by sections 25 ad 26. all reasonable steps to ensure that he complied with that provision or that in the circumstances of the particular case, he could not reasonably have been expected to ensure that he complied with the provision.
(3) (a) TERRORIST FINANCING OFFENCES UNDER THE ATA Offence Penalties Defences Offence of Terrorism (Section 14) It is an offence for a person in or On conviction on information out of The Bahamas to carry out where death ensues and where an act: (a) that constitutes an that act would have constituted offence under any of the Treaties the offence of murder or treason, listed in the First Schedule; or (b) may be sentenced to death or in any act for the purpose of any other case is liable to © 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 97 intimidating the public or compelling imprisonment for life.
a government/international organization to do or to refrain from doing anything that is intended to cause - a. death or serious bodily harm to a civilian; b. serious risk to health or safety of the public; c. d. substantial property damage; serious interference with an essential service, facility or system; e. prejudice to national security or disruption of public safety including in the provision of emergency services, to any computer or electronic system or to the provision of services directly related to banking, communications, infrastructure, financial services, public utilities, transportation or other essential infrastructure; or f. cybercrime resulting in any offence under this Act.
14(2) –It is an offence for a person On conviction on information or terrorist entity in or out of The where death ensues and where Bahamas (a) to commit the offence that act would have constituted of terrorism directly or indirectly, the offence of murder or treason, unlawfully and willfully; (b) to may be sentenced to death or in participate as an accomplice in the any other case is liable to offence of terrorism or the financing imprisonment for life of terrorism (c) to organize or direct others to commit the offence of terrorism or the financing of © 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 98 terrorism or (d) to contribute to the commission of the offence of terrorism of the financing of terrorism.
Offence of Financing of Terrorism (Section 15) It is an offence for any person to A person, or director or person in provide or collect funds; or provide charge of a legal entity is liable financial services or make such on conviction on indictment to a services available to persons, fine of up to twenty-five million whether by means that are direct or dollars and to imprisonment for indirect, unlawful and willful with the twenty-five years.
intention or knowledge that the funds or services are to be used in Where a body corporate or its full or in part (a) in order to carry director, manager or other similar out an offence of terrorism, (b) by a officer is convicted, the Court terrorist or by a terrorist shall have the power to (a) organization for any purpose, (c) to revoke business licenses (b) conduct an act that constitutes an order that the body corporate be offence in any of the Treaties listed wound up (c) forfeit the assets in the Schedule (d) in order to and properties of the body facilitate travel by an individual to a corporate to the Confiscated foreign State for the purpose of Assets Fund (d) prohibit the body carrying out a terrorist act, or corporate from performing any participating in or providing further activities.
instruction or training to carry out a terrorist act (e) by a listed entity (f) by an entity owned or controlled directly or indirectly by a listed entity (g) by a person or entity acting on behalf of or at the direction of a designated person or listed entity (h) to facilitate the travel or activities of a foreign terrorist fighter (i) to carry out any other act to intimidate the public or compel the government to do or refrain from doing an act or it is © 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 99 intended to cause death or serious bodily harm or any damage mentioned in section 14(1).
Reporting Requirements (Section 49) It is an offence for a financial Liable on summary conviction to institution to know or have a fine not exceeding two hundred reasonable grounds to suspect that and fifty thousand dollars any funds maintained on its books ($250,000).
are by any individual entity or legal entity who (a) commits terrorist acts or participates in or facilitates the commission of terrorists acts or the financing of terrorism; (b) is a designated entity; (c) is a listed entity and the financial institution fails to report the existence of such funds to the FIU.
Financing of Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (Section 9) It is an offence for any person who A person, or director or person in A person does not commit an provides financial services or charge of a legal entity is liable offence if he can show that makes such services available to on conviction on indictment to a he did not know and had no persons or attempts to do so fine of up to twenty-five million reasonable cause to believe whether by means that are direct or dollars and to imprisonment for that the object was a weapon indirect, unlawful and willful with the twenty-five years.
for the purposes of those intention or knowledge that the Where a body corporate or its sections.
funds or services are to be used in director, manager or other similar full or in part (a) to manufacture, officer is convicted, the Court develop or produce or participate in shall have the power to (a) the development or production of a revoke business licenses (b) nuclear, biological or chemical order that the body corporate be weapon for use in terrorists acts (b) wound up (c) forfeit the assets to distribute, or supply a nuclear, and properties of the body biological or chemical weapon to corporate to the Confiscated carry out a terrorist act (c) to train Assets Fund (d) prohibit the body groups of persons to develop or corporate from performing any © 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 100 produce or participate in the further activities.
development of a nuclear, biological or chemical weapon for use by a terrorist or terrorist organization (d) conducts and constitutes an offence under the Treaties listed in the Schedule (e) to carry out any other act to intimidate the public or compel the government to do or refrain from doing an act or it is intended to cause death or serious bodily harm or any damage.
Duty to disclose information relating to offences and terrorist acts (Section 69 (1) It is an offence for any financial institution who has any information which will assist in (a) preventing the commission by another person, of a terrorist act or (b) securing the arrest or prosecution of another person for an offence under the ATA and fails to disclose the information to the Commissioner of Police or the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Procedure for designated entities (Section 44) When a financial institution receives the list of designated entities referred to in section 43(2)(a) or (d) it shall (a)(i) freeze all funds held by it in the name of a designated entity, (ii) inform the Attorney general and FIU that a designated entity has funds with the financial institution (iii) inform the designated Liable on conviction on indictment to a fine of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) and to imprisonment for two (2) years.
© 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 101 entity that the funds have been frozen.

The ATA incorporates all offences contained in the Treaties listed in its First Schedule, which are reproduced in 3 (b) below.

It is important to note that terrorism offences in the ATA have been incorporated into the list of predicate offences appearing in the First Schedule of POCA and thereby subject to the requirement imposed upon accounting firms under the FTRA and the FIUA.
Section 50 of the ATA requires the reporting of offences under the Act to be made to the Commissioner of Police.

3) (b) THE SCHEDULE TO THE ATA LIST OF TREATIES RELATIVE TO TERRORISM 1.

Convention on offences and certain other Acts committed on Board Aircraft signed at Tokyo 14th September, 1963.

2.

Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Seizure of Aircraft, done at the Hague on 16th December, 1970.

3.
3.

Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Civil Aviation, done at Montreal on 23rd September, 1971.

4.

Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Crimes against Internationally Protected Persons including Diplomatic Agents, adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on 14th December, 1973.

5. International Convention against the taking of Hostages, adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations 17th December, 1979.

6.

7.
6.

7.

Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material signed at Vienna on 3rd March, 1980.

Protocol for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts of Violence at Airports Serving International Civil Aviation, supplementary to the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Civil Aviation, signed at Montreal on 24th February, 1988.

8.

Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Maritime Navigation, done at Rome on 10th March, 1988.

9.
9.

Protocol for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Fixed Platforms located on the Continental Shelf, done at Rome on 10th March, 1988.

10.

Convention on the Marking of Plastic Explosives for the Purpose of Detection, signed at Montreal on 1st March, 1991.
© 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 102 11. International Convention for the Suppression of Terrorist Bombings, adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on 15th December, 1997.

12. International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on 9th December, 1999.

13.

The Biological Weapons Convention entered into force on 26th March 1975.

14.
14.

The Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) adopted by the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva on 3rd September 1992.

© 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 103 APPENDIX D SUSPICIOUS TRANSACTION REPORT Completed forms should be forwarded by hand, facsimile or courier to the Financial Intelligence Unit, 3rd Floor Norfolk House, Frederick Street, P.O.

Box SB-50086 Nassau, The Bahamas.

Telephone No.

:: (242) 356-9808 or (242) 356-6327, Facsimile No.


: (242) 322-5551 For Official Use Only FIU Reference Number: ...................................................................................... To: Financial Intelligence Unit – Fax: (242) 322-5551 Date: No.
of Pages: NB: Persons who report suspicious transactions are required, pursuant to section 25 of the Financial Transactions Reporting Act, 2018 to provide the Financial Intelligence Unit with the following information: [A] Disclosing Institution Disclosure Type: Proceeds of Crime  Report No.
: ......................................................................... Drug Trafficking Other   Type of Transaction: .......................................................... ............................................................................................ Name of Disclosing Institution: ........................................................................................................................ Full Address: ................................................................................................................................................... .........................................................................................................................................................................
Sort Code: ....................................................................................................................................................... Name of Person Handling Transaction: .......................................................................................................... Name of Money Laundering Reporting Officer/Contact Person: ....................................................................
Direct Telephone No: ........................................... Fax: ................................................................................... E-mail Address: ............................................................................................................................................... © 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 104 [B] Subject(s) of Disclosure - Individual Full Name (Individual): ....................................................................................................................................
Date and Place of Birth: ..................................................................................................................................
Occupation:……………………………………… .......................................................................................... Full Address: ................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................... ………………….

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. Telephone No.
(Work): ......................................... Telephone No.

(Home): .................................................... Fax: ...................................................................... E-mail Address: ................................................................. [C] Subject(s) of Disclosure - Company Company Name: .............................................................................................................................................
Type of Business: ............................................................................................................................................ Full Address: ................................................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................................................................... Telephone No.
: ..................................................... Fax No.

: ............................................................................. E-mail Address: ...............................................................................................................................................

Identification Documents (e.g., certificate of incorporation, memorandum and articles of association, etc.
if available): ........................................................................................................................................................ ......................................................................................................................................................................... [D] Beneficial Owner(s) (of the assets being the subject(s) of disclosure – if different from the subject(s) of disclosure above) Full Name: .......................................................................................................................................................
Date and Place of Birth (Individual):................................................................................................................ © 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 105 Type of Business/Occupation: ........................................................................................................................ Full Address: ................................................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................................................................... ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….


Telephone No.

(Work): ......................................... Telephone No.

(Home): .................................................... Fax: ...................................................................... E-mail Address: ................................................................. [E] Authorised Signatories Information on authorised signatories and/or persons with power of attorney.
(List further persons in an annex in the same manner as required below) Full Name (Individual): ....................................................................................................................................

Date and Place of Birth (Individual):................................................................................................................
Occupation:: ......................................................... .......................................................................................... Full Address: ................................................................................................................................................... …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. ......................................................................................................................................................................... ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Telephone No.

(Work): ......................................... Telephone No.

(Home): .................................................... Fax: ...................................................................... E-mail Address: ................................................................. [F] Intermediaries Full Name (Individual): ....................................................................................................................................
Occupation: .......................................................... .......................................................................................... Full Address: ................................................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................................................................... © 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 106 Telephone No.
(Work): ......................................... Telephone No.

(Home): .................................................... Fax: ...................................................................... E-mail Address: ................................................................. [G] Account Information/Activity Type of Account: (e.g., individual/joint, trust, loan, etc.
): ............................................................................... Account number: .............................................................................................................................................
Date Opened: .................................................................................................................................................. Assets Held: .................................................................................................................................................... Other Accounts Held by any of the Parties Involved:...................................................................................... REASONS FOR SUSPICION Details of Sums Amount Debit or Credit Date Source Currency Arousing Suspicion Indicating Debit or Credit Source and Currency Used Please describe the details of the transaction(s) and the activity that promoted the report, giving reason for your suspicion and any steps that have already been taken (e.g., own investigations).
Include information on any third party(s) involved (e.g., payee, payer, deliverer of checks, stocks, guarantee beneficiary, guarantee surety, third party security creditors).

Please add continuation sheets as necessary.
Submitted By: _________________________________ Signature: _________________________________ You are asked to assist with completing the attached statistical analysis, which will help us to give you feedback – Thank you!

© 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 107 STATISTICAL INFORMATION Nature of Institution Please Grounds for Disclosure?
tick Please tick all that apply Please tick Bank Fund Managers Bureaux Des Changes Stockbrokers Financial Advisors Insurance Companies Trust Company Media / Publicity Internet Research Group Information 3rd Party Information Service of Production, Charging or Monitoring Order Police enquiry Account Activity Not in Keeping with KYC Corporate Service Provider Evidence of Forged Documentation Accountants Accountants Local Regulator Other Regulator Other (specify) Trends?
Cash Transactions Transitory Accounts – Immediate Layering High Risk Jurisdictions Unusual Forex Transactions Purchase and Surrender of Insurance Policy Repeat disclosures Failure to comply with due diligence/checks Involving at least one intermediary Other (specify) Long Standing Customer New Customer Electronic Banking EURO Transaction Criminality Suspected Drugs Terrorism What currency was involved?
GBP USD EUR ESP GDM ITL © 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 108 Fraud Revenue Fraud Insider Dealing Corruption Unknown / undetermined FRF IEP SEK CHF BSD Regulatory Matters OTHER Other Completed forms should be forwarded to the Financial Intelligence Unit, 3rd Floor, Norfolk House, Frederick Street, P.O.

Box SB-50086, Nassau, The Bahamas.

Telephone No: (242) 356-9808 or (242) 356-6327 Fax No.
(242) 322-5551 © 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 109 APPENDIX E ACCOUNTING PROFESSION – TYPOLOGIES Source: Asia / Pacific Group Typology Report – 2017 - FIJI 204.

The Fijian FIU received an STR from a commercial bank relating to two individuals, Person K and Person L. Person K is an American national reported as one of the directors of Company J.

Person K is reportedly a student.

Person K arrived in Fiji on 1 February and departed Fiji on 5 February.
Person L is an American national reported as one of the directors of Company J.

Person L is reportedly retired.

Person L arrived in Fiji at the same time as person K. 205.

The Fijian FIU conducted checks and established that Company J was incorporated and is registered in the Republic of Seychelles.

There was a mention of another entity, Company R which is reportedly based in Switzerland.
Both Person K and Person L mentioned that they are expecting a transfer of 29 million EUROs from Company R to Company J’s bank account in Fiji.

Person K and Person L engaged a local accounting firm in Fiji to assist with the opening of the bank account of Company J with a local commercial bank in Fiji.

206.

The local accounting firm requested that bank officers meet with Person K and Person L at the office to open a foreign currency euro bank account.
The local bank was informed of the 29 million euros transfer from Company R. On 11 February, the local bank closed the bank account due to insufficient documentation provided to open the account.

207.

On 19 February, Person K engaged another local bank through email to open a EURO account.

The Fiji FIU issued a case report to the FINCEN FIU for possible attempted layering activities by the individuals and associated entities.

208 The possible offences in this case include money laundering and fraud.
209 The indicators that relate to this case include (1) Use of an accountant as a gatekeeper to facilitate alleged layering of funds and (2) Occupation of investors is dubious.
© 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 110 Source: Case 6 – Accountant jailed for laundering money via Hong Kong and New Zealand AUSTRAC Typology Report 2014 - Account and Deposit-taking Services An Australian law enforcement agency conducted an investigation into a suspect believed to be involved in laundering money.

AUSTRAC information linked the suspect to multiple companies and structured cash deposits.
The suspect was charged with providing incomplete information in relation to a financial transaction.

The suspect pleaded guilty and was sentenced to nine months imprisonment and received a two-year good behaviour bond.

Over a two-year period, an account held by the main suspect received more than 80 ‘structured’ cash deposits, as a well as a small number of cheque deposits.7 The cash and cheques were deposited into an account held by the suspect.
The suspect, an accountant, regularly consolidated the funds from the various deposits and transferred the funds electronically to third-party domestic accounts.

Authorities believed the suspect received a percentage of the funds he transferred as a commission for his services.

Although the exact source of the funds laundered by the suspect is unknown, authorities identified possible links between the funds and the importation of drugs into Australia.
AUSTRAC information linked the suspect to approximately 50 companies and revealed that the structured cash deposits into the suspect’s account were made on behalf of both companies and individuals.

AUSTRAC also received four suspicious matter reports (SMRs) from reporting entities detailing structured cash deposits undertaken by the suspect.
Further analysis by AUSTRAC identified that the suspect also undertook international funds transfer instructions (IFTIs) worth more than AUD700,000 to Hong Kong and New Zealand.

The funds were transferred from accounts held in the suspect’s name to overseas business accounts in amounts ranging from AUD400 to AUD50,000.

In some instances the offshore recipient businesses shared the same name as businesses operated by the suspect in Australia.
The suspect was charged under section 31 of the Financial Transaction Reports Act 1988 and section 142(1) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Act 2006 for providing incomplete information in relation to a financial transaction.

He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to nine months imprisonment and received a good behaviour bond for a period of two years.

© 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 111 APPENDIX F REFERENCES: 1.
The Wolfsberg Group Articles on Risk Assessment for Money Laundering https://www.wolfsberg-principles.com/publications/wolfsberg-standards 2.

FATF Guidance on the Risk-Based Approach for Accountants http://www.fatf-gafi.org/ 3.

FATF Guidance on Politically Exposed Persons (Recommendations 12 and 22) http://www.fatf-gafi.org/ 4.

FATF listing of High Risk Countries of Money Laundering or Terrorist Financing & Other Monitored Jurisdictions.
http://www.fatf-gafi.org/ © 2018 Compliance Commission - Accountant / Accounting Firms – All Rights Reserved 112