2012-07-01 | 24022Added · Updated
Reporting Entities must immediately report to the Financial Intelligence Unit of Trinidad and Tobago if they hold funds belonging to entities designated by the UN Security Council or listed on the FIUTT consolidated list. Entities are prohibited from entering into or continuing business transactions with such individuals or organizations and must submit a Suspicious Transaction Report. The FIUTT may instruct the suspension of transaction processing for up to five working days, after which the Attorney General applies to the Court for a freezing order. The Court may declare the entity a listed entity and freeze funds, with provisions for review and revocation of orders within sixty days and every six months.
Procedures for Reporting Designated Entities’(Terrorists’) Funds July 2012 Page 1 GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE UNIT MINISTRY OF FINANCE AND THE ECONOMY GUIDANCE NOTE PROCEDURES FOR REPORTING TERRORISTS’ FUNDS Anti-Terrorism Act, Chap. 12:07 INTRODUCTION The Anti -Terrorism Act (the ATA) is designed to assist in combating terrorism and the financing of terrorism. To achieve these aims the ATA places obligations on Financial Institutions and on Businesses and Professionals (Listed Businesses, defined in section 2 of the Proceeds of Crime Act), so that they do not unwittingly hide or move terrorists’ funds. This guidance note is intended to provide assistance to Financial Institutions and Listed Businesses (Reporting Entities) regarding their obligations under section 22AB of the ATA as amended to report Terrorists’ Funds immediately and without delay to the Financial Intelligence Unit (the FIUTT). LEGAL OBLIGATIONS The FATF’s Recommendation 6 of the revised 40 Recommendations requires each country to implement measures to freeze, without delay, funds or other assets of terrorists, those who finance terrorism and terrorist organisations in accordance with the United Nations resolutions relating to the prevention and suppression of the financing of terrorist acts. Each country must also adopt and implement measures, inclusive of legislative reform, which would enable the competent authorities to seize and confiscate property that is the proceeds of, or used in, or intended or allocated for use in the financing of terrorism, terrorist acts or by terrorist organisations. To this end, section 22AB (a) and (b) of the ATA as amended requires a Reporting Entity to report to the FIUTT when it knows or has reasonable grounds to believe there are funds 1 in the Reporting Entity or in Trinidad and Tobago which belong to an individual or entity: 1 Under section 2 of the ATA “property” or “funds” means assets of any kind, whether tangible or intangible, moveable or immovable, however acquired and legal documents or instruments in any form, including electronic or digital, evidencing title to, or interest in, such assets, including but not limited to bank credits, travellers cheques, bank cheques, money orders, shares, securities, bonds, drafts, letters of credit whether situated in Trinidad and Tobago or elsewhere, and includes a legal or equitable interest, whether full or partial, in any such property;”
Procedures for Reporting Designated Entities’(Terrorists’) Funds July 2012 Page 2 a. that is designated as a terrorist entity by the Security Council of the United Nations (“a designated entity”); or b. that is listed on the consolidated list circulated by the FIUTT (“listed entity”). This guidance note sets the procedure a Reporting Entity must follow under section 22AB. This guidance note does not address obligations on Quarterly Terrorists Reports (QTR) under section 33 (3) or Suspicious Transaction/Activity Reports (STR/SAR) under sections 22AB (d) and 22C (3). Step1 REPORTING ENTITY’s OBLIGATION A Reporting Entity is required to consult the UN 1267 List and the Consolidated List to verify whether any designated entity or listed entity has funds in the financial institution or listed business.
Procedures for Reporting Designated Entities’(Terrorists’) Funds July 2012 Page 3 2. The FIUTT MAY INSTRUCT the Reporting Entity in writing to suspend the processing of the transaction in accordance with section 22E of the ATA for a period not exceeding five (5) working days. 3. The Reporting Entity may apply to the Court to discharge the FIUTT’s instructions but until such time the FIUTT’s instructions remain in force. 4. The FIUTT will immediately and without delay inform the Attorney General of the name submitted by the Reporting Entity which will be recorded on the United Nations Security Council List of designated entities or the consolidated List. Step 3 ORDER OF THE COURT
Procedures for Reporting Designated Entities’(Terrorists’) Funds July 2012 Page 4 b. apply to the Court for the revocation of the Order if he determines that the circumstances under which the Order was made no longer exist; and c. publish the Order for the revocation in the Gazette and in two (2) daily newspapers. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES A list of known terrorist individuals and entities are available on the following web sites: www.un.org/sc/committees/1267/aq_sanctions_list.shtml, www.un.org/sc/committees/1267/pressreleases.shtml, or www.fiu.gov.tt Guidance on detecting terrorist activity is available at: http://www.fatfgafi.org/documents/guidance/guidanceforfinancialinstitutionsindetectingterroristfinancing.html