SOCA publish The UK threat assessment of Organised Crime
The UK threat assessment of Organised Crime has been published on the Serious Organised Crime ( SOCA) website
The Money Laundering Regulations supervisory regime is run on a cost recovery basis and the fees paid by customers cover the expense of running the operation. HMRC costs include registering new businesses, contacting and visiting businesses, running an effective risk system, maintaining the register and producing guidance and information for customers.
The annual fee for businesses registered under the Money Laundering Regulations 2007 will remain at £120 per premise for the year 2010 – 2011.
HMRC had recently sent out a letter to all Money Service Businesses (MSBs) to tell them about their intention to publish an online MSB register by the end of 2009. This register is currently being developed and will be called the MSB online registration check.
40 police officers have been involved in the operation in the South-East of England which has led to a number of co-ordinated searches on four houses, the business unit of a gaming company and a solicitor’s office. Police officers have seized documents from the sites searched. As a result of the raids police have arrested four men on charges of conspiracy to defraud.
HM Revenue and Customs officers arrested 21 people in raids in a multi million pound construction industry fraud.
The arrests were made on suspicion of conspiracy to cheat the public revenue and money laundering offences under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. The Act was designed to take the profit out of crime, making it harder for money to be laundered and depriving criminals of their illicit wealth.
Following an OFT investigation into the sports retail market, it has been announced that the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has now begun its own investigations into JJB Sports and Sports Direct.
JJB Sports revealed that it had stated its concerns about possible cartel activity in its market to the OFT which in turn has been granted immunity from any financial penalty in the event that competition rules have been broken.
The Jersey Financial Services Commission has published a consultation paper concerning proposed amendments to the ‘Money Laundering (Jersey) Order 2008’.
The Money Laundering (Jersey) Order 2008’ requires Regulated businesses to apply policies and procedures for the prevention and reporting of money laundering. These include policies and procedures for customer due diligence, record keeping, and reporting ‘suspicious activity concerning money laundering and terrorist financing.
John Warman who holds no qualifications to be an accountant, operated a sole practitioner practice dealing with the affairs of a number of clients. He conspired to steal £2.5m from HMRC was told by the Judge that he lived in a ‘fantasy world’ as he jailed him for eight years. John Warman drove a £165,000 Bentley Arnage and led a lifestyle of the pretence that he had substantial capital in the bank.
In a further tightening of the net for international tax evasion, the Netherlands Ministry of Finance has announced the signing of tax information exchange agreements (TIEAs) with three Caribbean territories.