2018-12-31 | 24051Added · Updated
This Act amends the Proceeds of Crime Act to criminalize tipping off regarding suspicious transaction reports and establishes the National Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Financing of Terrorism Committee with specific membership and reporting duties. It also amends the Anti-Terrorism Act by creating an Anti-Terrorism Unit within the Office of the Attorney General and mandating annual performance reports to Parliament. Additionally, the Financial Intelligence Unit of Trinidad and Tobago Act is updated to align references with new sections of the Proceeds of Crime Act.
AN ACT to amend the Proceeds of Crime Act, Chap 11:27, the Anti-Terrorism Act, Chap 12:07 and the Financial Intelligence Unit of Trinidad and Tobago Act, Chap 72:01 [Assented to 31st December, 2018] ENACTED by the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago as follows:
Enactment Short title Fourth Session Eleventh Parliament Republic of Trinidad and Tobago REPUBLIC OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO Act No. 20 of 2018 [L.S.]
information or any other matter which is likely to prejudice the filing of the suspicious transaction report or suspicious activity report.”; (ii) by inserting after subsection (4), the following subsection: “ (4A) Nothing in subsection (1) to (3) makes it an offence for an employee, officer or agent of a financial institution in a financial group to disclose information to an employee, officer or agent of another financial institution in the financial group.”; and (iii) in subsection (5), by deleting the words “Subsection (4) does” and substituting the words “Subsections (4) and (4A) do”; (c) in section 53— (i) by inserting after subsection (1) the following subsection: “ (1A) A person who knowingly attempts, aids, abets, conspires, procures or otherwise facilitates the commission of an offence under section 45 commits an offence and is liable on conviction on No. 20 Miscellaneous Provisions (Proceeds of Crime, Anti- 2018 3 Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Unit)
indictment to a fine of twentyfive million dollars and to imprisonment for fifteen years.”; and (ii) by inserting after subsection (3), the following subsection: “ (4) N o tw i t h s ta n d i ng subsections (2) and (3), where a person employed in the service of the State as a public officer or on contract, commits an offence under— (a) section 51, he is liable on summary conviction to a fine of ten million dollars and to imprisonment for ten years; or (b) section 52, he is liable on summary conviction to a fine of five hundred thousand dollars and to imprisonment for five years.”; (d) by repealing section 54; (e) in section 55(3C), by deleting the words “subsection (1)” and substituting the words “subsection (2)(a)(ii)”; (f) in section 55B, by inserting after the word 4 No. 20 Miscellaneous Provisions (Proceeds of Crime, Anti- 2018 Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Unit)
“shall”, the words “, whether or not the underlying criminal activity was known or any illegal activity occurred,”; (g) in section 55D (4), in paragraph (a) of the definition of “Supervisory Authority”, by deleting— (i) the words “or the National Insurance Board established under the National Insurance Act” and “the Unit Trust Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago established under the Unit Trust Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago Act”; and (ii) the words “Company and” and substituting the words “Company,”; (h) in section 57(2)— (i) by inserting after the words “offence and”, the word “is”; and (ii) by deleting the words “, whether or not the company has been prosecuted or convicted”; and (i) by inserting after section 57, the following Part: “PART IIA NATIONAL ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING COUNTER FINANCING OF TERRORISM COMMITTEE 57A. (1) There shall be established a committee to be known as “the National Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Financing of Terrorism Committee” (“NAMLC”) which shall be responsible— (a) for— (i) making recommendations to the No. 20 Miscellaneous Provisions (Proceeds of Crime, Anti- 2018 5 Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Unit)
Minister in relation to the development; and (ii) coordinating the implementation, of national anti-money laundering, counter financing of terrorism and proliferation financing policies; (b) for collecting and compiling statistics with respect to anti-money laundering, counter financing of terrorism and proliferation financing; and (c) for coordinating the conduct of national risk assessments and mutual evaluations. (2) The NAMLC shall comprise a minimum of nine, but no more than fifteen, members selected from among— (a) persons representing— (i) the Ministry with responsibility for finance; (ii) the Ministry with responsibility for national security; (iii) the Attorney General; (iv) the Director of Public Prosecutions; (v) the Commissioner of Police; 6 No. 20 Miscellaneous Provisions (Proceeds of Crime, Anti- 2018 Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Unit)
(vi) the Financial Intelligence Unit of Trinidad and Tobago; (vii) the Central Bank; (viii) the Chairman of the Board of Inland Revenue; and (ix) the Trinidad and Tobago Securities and Exchange Commission; and (b) such other persons as the Minister thinks fit. (3) A member of the NAMLC shall be appointed by the Minister for a period not exceeding four years and may be reappointed. (4) The Minister shall appoint the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the NAMLC from among the members of the NAMLC. (5) The terms and conditions of the appointment of a member of NAMLC and the period of tenure of office shall be such as the Minister may set out in the instrument of appointment. (6) The NAMLC may establish such subcommittees as it thinks fit. (7) In this Part, “Minister” means the Minister to whom responsibility for NAMLC is assigned. 57B. NAMLC may make rules to govern its own procedure.”. No. 20 Miscellaneous Provisions (Proceeds of Crime, Anti- 2018 7 Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Unit)
information as the Attorney General thinks fit in relation to— (a) court listings; (b) international cooperation; (c) forfeitures; and (d) such other matters as the Attorney General considers necessary. (3) The Attorney General shall cause a copy of the report prepared under subsection (1) to be laid before both Houses of Parliament within one month after its completion.”. 4. (1) The Financial Intelligence Unit of Trinidad and Tobago Act is amended— (a) in section 8(3)(d), by deleting the word “55(3)” and substituting the word “55A”; and (b) in section 19, by deleting the words “section 55(7) of”. (2) Regulation 2 of the Financial Intelligence Unit of Trinidad and Tobago Regulations is amended in the definition of “Suspicious Transaction/Activity Report” by deleting the words “section 55(3)” and substituting the words “section 55A”. Passed in the House of Representatives this 17th day of December, 2018. Clerk of the House Passed in the Senate this 19th day of December, 2018. Clerk of the Senate (Ag.) Chap. 72:01 amended PRINTED BY THE GOVERNMENT PRINTER, CARONI REPUBLIC OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO—2018 No. 20 Miscellaneous Provisions (Proceeds of Crime, Anti- 2018 9 Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Unit)