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Instructions on Anti Money Laundering and Counter Terrorist
Financing in Securities Activities
Issued Pursuant to the provisions of Article 12 Paragraph P of the Securities Law
Number 76 for the Year 2002 and the provisions of Article 14 Paragraph A Section 4 of
the Anti Money Laundering and Counter Terrorist Financing Law Number 46 For the
Year 2007
Article 1
These instructions shall be entitled: “Instructions on Anti Money Laundering and Terrorist
Financing in the Activities of the Securities Commission”, and they shall come into force as of
the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.
Article 2
Scope:
The provisions of these Instructions shall apply to:
A. Financial services companies licensed by the Commission, and its branches
B. The custodian unless it is subject to the supervision of another supervisory authority
within the Kingdom.
C. Mutual investment companies and mutual investment funds registered with the
Commission,
all collectively referred to as “Subject Parties to the provisions of these Instructions”.
Article 3
A. Words and expressions mentioned in these Instructions shall have the meaning ascribed
to them in the Securities Law and the Anti Money Laundering and Counter Terrorist
Financing Law in force, unless the context indicates otherwise.
B. The following words and expressions, wherever mentioned in these Instructions shall
have the meaning ascribed to them hereunder, unless the context indicates otherwise:
The Unit The Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Terrorist Financing Unit
established in accordance with the provisions of the Anti Money
Laundering and Counter Terrorist Financing Law in force.
Customer The Customer of the party subject to the provisions of these
instructions, whether a natural or legal person.
Original Beneficiary The natural person for whose benefit the working relationship is
conducted or on his behalf, or who has complete or effective control
over a legal person or has the right to conduct legal action on its
behalf.
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Reporting Officer An upper management officer of Subject Parties, who is responsible
for reporting to the Unit any transactions suspected to be linked to
money laundering or terrorist financing.
Politically exposed Persons Persons who occupy or have occupied high public
positions in a foreign country, such as heads of states or government
or high-ranking government officials or prominent politicians, judges ,
military officers, prominent officials in political parties, or executive
officers in state-owned enterprises; the above include as a minimum
first degree relations of these persons and their partners.
Article 4
A. Subject Parties shall apply due diligence regarding Customers in the cases listed in Article
5 of these Instructions in accordance with the procedures defined in these Instructions.
Said due diligence shall include:
- Ascertaining and verifying the Customer’s identity and activities.
- Ascertaining the identity of the Original Beneficiary and taking appropriate measures
to verify it.
- Identifying the nature and objective of the working relationship.
- If an agent of a Customer deals with Subject Parties, such parties shall take reasonable
measures to acquire sufficient information to know the identity of this person.
B. If Subject Parties are unable to complete due diligence procedures with regard to the
Customer, they should refrain from opening an account for the Customer or entering into
a contract with him/ her. They shall also inform the Unit in accordance with these
Instructions if there is any suspicion related to money laundering or terrorist financing.
Article 5
Subject Parties shall apply due diligence with respect to the Customer in the following cases:
A. Before the transaction and while it is in progress.
B. If there is suspicion of a transaction related to money laundering or terrorist financing
irrespective of the value of the transaction.
C. In case of doubt regarding the accuracy or adequacy of the data received in advance to
know the identity of the Customer.
Article 6
Subject Parties to the provisions of these Instructions shall comply with the following:
A. Conduct continuous follow-up on the relationship with the Customer and examine
transactions conducted through this relationship in order to ensure that it complies with
Subject Parties' knowledge of the Customer, Original Beneficiary, nature of their business
and activities, and their assessment of the risk of money laundering or terrorist financing
activities occurring from the relationship with him.
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B. Review and update Customers’ data on a regular basis with respect to high-risk
Customers or whenever they doubt the correctness or adequacy of the data received
earlier.
C. Exercise due diligence with regard to their existing Customers before the issuance of
these Instructions on the basis of relative importance and risk, and exercise due diligence
with respect to their relationship with such Customers at the following times:
- When carrying out transactions worth large sums of money on their accounts.
- Upon the realization that there is inadequate information on one of the Customers.
- When there is a discernible change in the administration of the accounts and the
nature of transactions.
- When a material change takes place in the mechanism of documenting information
related to the Customer.
D. Record "in a special register" any sums paid by the Customer in cash that exceeds JD
10,000 or its equivalent in foreign currencies, or any recurrent payments or sums paid in
installments that are less than JD 10,000 by a small amount.
E. Not to deal with anonymous persons or persons with fictitious names, or with fictitious
banks and companies.
Article 7
A. Subject Parties shall review official documents to ascertain the identity of the Customer
and the nature of his business, and they shall acquire copies of these documents properly
signed by the competent employee to indicate an identical copy.
B. Subject Parties shall take appropriate measures to verify the correctness of data and
information received from the Customer by referring to independent and trustworthy
sources. This includes contacting relevant entities that issued the official documents and
referring to the website of the Companies Control Department.
C. Procedures for verifying the identity of a natural person and his activities shall observe
the following:
- Identification data shall include the Customer’s full name, nationality, place and date
of birth, national number for Jordanians and passport number for non-Jordanians,
current and permanent addresses, purpose and nature of the relationship, and any
other information deemed necessary.
- Subject Parties when dealing with persons of diminished or no capacity, shall acquire
documents related to them and to their legal representatives as the case may be, in
accordance with the provisions of section (1) above.
- If Subject Parties deal with an agent of the Customer, they shall obtain and keep
notarized copies of the legal power of attorney and ascertain and verify the identity of
the Customer and agent in accordance with the procedures for verifying the identity of
the Customer stipulated in these Instructions.
D. Procedures for identifying a legal person and his activities shall observe the following:
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- Identification data shall include the person’s name, legal form, address of its head
office, the type of activity it practices, its share capital, and the date and number of its
registration with the authorities concerned, which includes the national number of the
organization, its tax number, telephone numbers, the purpose and nature of the
business relationship with it, names and addresses of its owners and their shares of
the legal person, names of authorized signatories, and bylaws regulating the binding
authority of the legal person or the legal arrangement thereof, so that Subject Parties
are cognizant of the ownership structure and rules that regulate the powers to make
binding decisions for the legal person, as well as any other information deemed
necessary.
- The names and addresses of partners and shareholders whose shares exceed 10% of
the company’s share capital.
- To verify the existence of the legal person, its legal entity, and the names of it's owners
and authorized signatories through the necessary documents and the information
contained therein, such as the memorandum of association, articles of association,
and the certificates issued by the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the chambers of
Industry and Trade, and the Companies Control Department. If the company is
registered abroad, obtaining an official certificate issued by a competent authority is
needed.
- To have documents that indicate the authorization by the legal person to the natural
persons who represent it and the nature of their relationship with it. To verify their
identity and activity in accordance with the procedures for identifying the Customer
and his activity stipulated in C-1 of this Article, to verify that there is no legal reason
that prevents dealing with them, and to have copies of their signatures.
E. Procedures for identifying the Original Beneficiary shall observe the following:
- Taking appropriate measures to verify the identity of the Original Beneficiary, such as
reviewing data or information obtained from official documents to the extent that
Subject Parties are convinced that they are cognizant of the Original Beneficiary's
identity.
- Requesting the Customer to submit a written statement identifying the Original
Beneficiary, such statement to contain at least identifying information of the
Customers.
- Acquiring information regarding provisions regulating the activities of the legal person,
including the ownership structure and controlling administration.
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Article 8
Subject Parties shall put in place and implement the policies and procedures necessary to
avoid risks related to the misuse of indirect dealing with the Customer that does not occur
face to face, particularly where modern technology is used such as e-transactions or
transactions that are paid for through electronic means.
Article 9
A. Subject Parties shall take special care to know the identity and activities of the Customer
with regard to the following:
- Large operations and operations that do not have a clear economic or legal objective.
Special procedures shall be set to learn the conditions surrounding such operations
and the purpose behind them. Results shall be recorded in the registry.
- Operations that take place with persons who live in or who are citizens of countries
that do not have adequate systems to counter money laundering or terrorist financing,
or if these countries do not apply international controls related to anti money
laundering or terrorist financing adequately, which include special recommendations
issued by the Financial Action Task Force.
- In case of suspicion of money laundering or terrorist financing, or if Subject Parties
have doubts regarding the accuracy or adequacy of the data acquired to identify the
Customers, or in any operation that Subject Parties deem to constitute a high risk of
money laundering.
- Transactions that do not take place face to face, or that are conducted through
electronic means and tools.
- Transactions that are conducted through non-resident Customers.
- Dealing with politically exposed persons.
B. For the purpose of implementing the provisions of Paragraph A of this Article Subject
Parties shall be committed to complying with the provisions of these Instructions when
dealing with politically exposed persons as follows:
- Drawing a risk management system that indicates whether the Customer or his
representative or the Original Beneficiary fall within this category. The Board of
Directors or Executive Board shall draw a policy for accepting Customers from this
category that takes into consideration the classification of Customers by their degree
of risk.
- Receiving the approval of the General Manager or the authorized manager or their
representatives when establishing a relationship with such persons. The authorization
is also required upon discovering that a Customer or Original Beneficiary has become
exposed to those risks.
- Taking adequate measures to verify the sources of wealth of Customers and original
beneficiaries of politically exposed persons.
- Monitoring closely and continuously transactions conducted with politically exposed
persons.
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5. Requesting additional documents other than those requested in ordinary cases, or
implementing additional procedures if deemed necessary.
C. For the purpose of implementing the provisions of Paragraph A of this Article to items in
sections 1-3, Subject Parties are authorized to implement any of the procedures in
Paragraph B as deemed appropriate.
Article 10
A. If Subject Parties rely on third parties for due diligence regarding the Customer, they shall
immediately obtain the necessary information related to due diligence , and take
adequate measures to verify that copies of personal ID cards and other important
documents are available upon request, and that they are kept for the duration stipulated
for in 13-1 of these Instructions.
B. Notwithstanding the provisions of Paragraph A of this Article, the responsibility for
verifying the Customer’s data and for their correctness rests with Subject Parties.
C. Subject Parties shall verify that persons mentioned in Paragraph A of this Article are
subject to supervision and regulation in accordance with the provisions of the laws in
force, particularly with regard to Anti money laundering and terrorist financing.
Article 11
A. Subject Parties shall designate a Reporting Officer and provide the Commission and Unit
with his name and whoever deputizes for him in his absence, and with the procedures
approved by Subject Parties to implement the provisions of the Anti Money Laundering
and Counter Terrorist Financing Law and these Instructions. The Reporting Officer shall
meet the following requirements:
- To be accredited.
- To possess the necessary experience and qualifications.
- To have full capacity, and to be of good behavior and conduct.
- Any other conditions approved by the Board.
B. Subject Parties shall also designate someone to deputize for the Reporting Officer in case
of his absence. The deputy shall meet the same qualifications as the Reporting Officer.
C. Subject Parties shall enable the Reporting Officer to conduct his duties independently, in
a manner that preserves the secrecy of the information that he receives and the
procedures that he follows, and to give him access to the records and data that he needs
in order to fulfill his duty.
D. Reporting procedures:
- The chairman and members of the board, the executive board, the general-manager,
and all employees of Subject Parties shall comply with the provisions of these
Instructions and inform the Reporting Officer of any transactions that are suspected to
be connected with money laundering or terrorist financing.
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2. The Reporting Officer shall comply with the provisions of the Anti Money Laundering
and Counter Terrorist Financing Law , the bylaws, instructions, and decisions issued
pursuant thereto. He shall inform the Unit immediately of any transaction that is
suspected to be connected with money laundering or terrorist financing on a form
approved by the Unit, with all data and documents related to that transactions and the
reasons for suspicion attached thereto.
3. Subject Parties shall provide the Reporting Officer with the means to conduct his
duties independently, in a manner that preserves the secrecy of the information that
he receives and the procedures that he follows. They shall give him access to the
records and data needed to conduct the examinations and to review the systems and
procedures adopted by Subject Parties to combat money laundering and terrorist
financing, to examine the degree of compliance with the implementation of these
systems and procedures, and to propose any remedial action that may be necessary to
redress any shortcomings or update or develop it to increase their efficiency and
efficacy.
4. It is prohibited to disclose directly or indirectly any reporting procedures that are
adopted regarding transactions suspected to be linked with money laundering or
terrorist financing or any data related thereto.
Article 12
General rules
A. It is prohibited to dispense any sums of money to Customers except through money
orders or cheques issued to the first beneficiary only, to be handed directly to the
Customer.
B. If the cheque is handed to another party who is authorized to receive it by the Customer,
Subject Parties shall document all the information related to the recipient’s name, place
of residence, place of work, national number if he is Jordanian, or a photocopy of his
passport is he is non-Jordanian.
Article 13
The internal anti-money laundering and counter terrorist financing system:
Subject Parties shall adopt an appropriate system that includes the policies, procedures, and
internal controls needed to counter money laundering and terrorist financing operations.
Said system shall include the following:
- A clear anti money laundering and counter terrorist financing policy approved by the
board of directors or executive board as the case may be.
- Detailed written anti money laundering and counter terrorist financing procedures
that define precisely the duties and responsibilities in accordance with the approved
policy and the instructions issued by the Jordan Securities Commission in this regard.
- An appropriate mechanism to verify compliance with anti money laundering and
counter terrorist financing instructions, policies, and procedures in force.
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4. To assign an independent and qualified staff within the internal audit department
equipped with adequate resources to test compliance with anti money laundering and
counter terrorist financing procedures, policies, and internal cheques.
5. Training programs necessary for different levels of employees, and commitment to
attend the training courses supervised by the Commission and/ or the Unit.
Article 14
Keeping records and documents
- Subject Parties shall keep records, and documents related to their local or
international transactions that include sufficient data to identify these transactions,
including identification data related to Customers and Original Beneficiaries for at least
five years after the conclusion of the transaction or ending dealing with the Customer
as the case may be, and update these records regularly.
- Subject Parties shall prepare special files of transactions suspected to be related to
money laundering or terrorism financing containing photocopies of reports and
documents of these transactions for a period of no less than five years after the date
of the report or until the issuance of a final decision by the competent court,
whichever is longer.
- Information shall be updated regularly and continuously or whenever any doubt arises
around them at any stage of dealing, and a comprehensive system for record keeping
shall be put in place that can respond to the request of the Unit and the official
authorities within the deadline.
- Subject Parties shall keep the records and documents referred to in the sections of this
article for longer periods than those stipulated for upon the request of the authorities
concerned.
- Subject Parties shall be committed to making all records and documents referred to in
Section 1 of this article and the information related to the provisions of these
Instructions available to the Unit and the official authorities upon the latter’s request.
Article 15
A. Subject Parties shall include in their contract with the auditor his commitment to
ensure compliance with the provisions of the Law, these instructions, decisions issued
pursuant thereto and the adequacy of related policies and procedures. He shall
include the results of this in his report, and inform the Commission immediately
should a violation of these instructions be discovered.
B. Subject Parties shall provide the Commission with their annual report that includes
the opinion of the auditor on the degree of compliance with the provisions of these
instructions and decisions issued pursuant thereto, and the adequacy of related
policies and procedures, attached to the yearly financial report.
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Article 16
Notwithstanding the provisions of instructions issued pursuant to the Anti Money
Laundering and Counter Terrorist Financing Law in force, persons or companies that exercise
any of the activities that are subject to the supervision and licensing of the Commission shall
comply with the obligations contained in related international rules that are in force as
communicated by the Commission or the authorities concerned.
Article 17
It is prohibited for any person who gains access to information or who learns directly or
indirectly by virtue of his position or post information that was submitted or exchanged in
accordance with the provisions of the Anti Money Laundering and Counter Terrorist
Financing Law in force , the bylaws and instructions issued pursuant thereto, including the
present instructions, to disclose this information in any way.
Article 18
It any of Subject Parties violate the provisions of these instructions said party shall be liable
to one or more of the penalties or procedures stipulated by the provisions of the Securities
Law Number 76 for the year 2002 and/ or the Anti Money Laundering and Counter Terrorism
Financing Law in force.
Article 19
Subject Parties shall acquaint its employees with the following:
- The text of the Anti Money Laundering and Counter Terrorist Financing Law in force
and the instructions issued pursuant thereto.
- The guidelines for identifying patterns suspected to fall within money laundering and
terrorist financing operations.
- Reporting procedures of transactions suspected to be related to money laundering or
terrorist financing.
Article 20
The Anti Money Laundering Instructions in the Activities of the Securities Commission for the
year 2008 shall be annulled, and procedures conducted pursuant thereto shall remain in
force for the purposes of the provisions of these instructions.
Article 21
The Chairman of the Jordan Securities Commission shall issue the decisions necessary to
implement the provisions of these instructions.