Information on the results of the SFMS activities in the 1st quarter of 2017
The State Financial Monitoring Service of Ukraine as the FIU of Ukraine takes enhanced practical measures on counteraction to legalization (laundering) of the proceeds from crime, terrorist financing and the financing of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Particularly in the 1st quarter of 2017 the SFMS developed 129 referrals (58 case referrals and 71 additional case referrals) that were submitted to:
- Prosecutor General’s Office of Ukraine – 10 case referrals and 32 additional case referrals;
- National Police of Ukraine – 11 case referrals and 10 additional case referrals;
- State Fiscal Service of Ukraine – 16 case referrals and 10 additional case referrals;
- Security Service of Ukraine – 16 case referrals and 50 additional case referrals;
- National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine – 5 case referrals and 14 additional case referrals.
In these materials the total amount of financial transactions that may be related to money laundering and committing another crime, as defined by the Criminal Code of Ukraine, is UAH 12,6 billion.
Moreover, the FIU of Ukraine continues to carry out its active work on investigation of laundering of the proceeds, derived from corruption activities and embezzlement and misappropriation of state funds and property by former President of Ukraine V. Yanukovych, his close persons, officials of former government of the country and their associated persons, as well as of persons, involved in the deliberate mass murder of people in Ukraine.
Thus, during the 1st quarter of 2017 the SFMS developed and submitted to the law enforcement agencies 42 referrals (8 case referrals and 24 additional case referrals) on financial transactions, involving former high officials.
The total amount of financial transactions that may be related to the legalization of the proceeds from crime in these materials amounts to UAH 7,0 billion.
There were 589 referrals (117 case referrals and 572 additional case referrals) developed and submitted to law enforcement agencies of Ukraine over the whole period of investigation (March, 2014 – March, 2017) on financial transactions performed by former high officials.
The total amount of financial transactions that may be related to the legalization of the proceeds from crime or may be related to other crimes equals to UAH 208,7 billion.
As a result of the measures taken by the SFMS during the investigation funds on the accounts of natural persons and legal entities that are related to Yanukovych V.F and former high officials in the equivalent to USD 1,54 billion were blocked.
The special attention of the SFMS is paid to search and freezing of assets that belongs to former high officials abroad.
Thus, during the investigations conducted by FIUs of other countries, assets of the former high officials and related to them persons, totaling USD 107,19 million, EUR 15,87 million and CHF 135,01 million were blocked in the following countries: Austria, Great Britain, Latvia, Cyprus, Italy, Liechtenstein, Switzerland and Netherlands.
During the 1st quarter of 2017 the SFMS developed and submitted to the Security Service of Ukraine and Prosecutor General’s Office of Ukraine for consideration and making decision pursuant to the Criminal Procedural Code of Ukraine 13 referrals (7 case referrals and 6 additional case referrals) concerning financial transactions of individuals that might be related to terrorist financing (separatism) and/or individuals that publicly calling to change or overthrow of the constitutional order and state borders of Ukraine with use of violence.
In these materials the total amount of financial transactions that may be related to money laundering and commitment another crime, as defined by the Criminal Code of Ukraine, is USD 357.4 million.
During the 1st quarter of 2017 period the SFMS in 2 cases UAH 0,23 million on the bank accounts of the customers were blocked.
Over the whole period of conducting investigations (March 2014 – March 2017) concerning financial transactions of individuals that might be related to terrorist financing (separatism) and/or individuals that publicly calling to change or overthrow of the constitutional order and state borders of Ukraine with use of violence, the FIU of Ukraine has developed and submitted to the law enforcement agencies of Ukraine 165 referrals (121 case referrals and 44 additional case referrals).
Moreover, the SFMS pursued in the 1st quarter of 2017 active cooperation with international institutions such as Financial Action Task Force (FATF), Committee of Experts on the Evaluation of Anti-Money Laundering Measures and the Financing of Terrorism (MONEYVAL), European Union, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, Egmont group of financial intelligence units, the United Nations.
The special attention was paid to the work with MONEYVAL, as a key office of the Council of Europe on combating money laundering and terrorist financing.
From March 23 to April 8 2017 there was the on-site visit of the Council’s of Europe MONEYVAL Committee to Ukraine within the 5th Mutual Evaluation Round.
The preparation to and support of the on-site visit of the MONEYVAL Committee in Ukraine was coordinated by the SFMS.
The key element of the evaluation were consultations with the representatives of the state authorities, the private sector and the public associations to examine the effectiveness of practical implementation of the FATF Recommendations according to 11 Immediate Outcomes.
During the on-site visit the MONEYVAL experts held more than 70 official scheduled working meetings with the representatives of the SFMS, the law enforcement and other authorities, the state regulators, the reporting entities, the private and public sector.
Following the evaluation consequences, the experts will prepare the Mutual Evaluation Report with the relevant recommendations for Ukraine, which is subject to approval at the MONEYVAL Plenary meeting.
Press service
of the SFMS
presa@sdfm.gov.ua
www.sdfm.gov.ua