Zugl.: Saarbrücken, Univ., Habil.-Schr., 2007

Habilitation - Universität, Saarbrücken, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (p. [425]-451) and index.

Thesis (Master of Arts in Homeland Security )--Naval Postgraduate School, December 2009. / Thesis Advisor: Looney, Robert E. Second Reader: Trinkunas, Harold A. "December 2009." Description based on title screen as viewed on January 29, 2010. Author(s) subject terms: Terrorism, Charities, Tribalism, Financial Action Task Force, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Hamas, Al-Qaida, Wahhabism. Includes bibliographical references (p. 65-68). Also available in print.

Financial Action Task Force (FATF) är det främsta internationella organ som verkar i kampen mot penningtvätt, i syfte att utveckla och förbättra de nationella systemen, stärka ett lands finansiella säkerhet och stärka det internationella samarbetet. FATF`s rekommendationer, liksom dess ömsesidiga utvärderingsprogram, är så kraftfullt att de anses som en "gyllene standard" beträffande penningtvätt. Syftet med uppsatsen är att kartlägga hur Sverige som medlemsland uppfyller efterlevnaden av FATF’s rekommendationer i granskningschecklistan, med särskild tonvikt på kundkännedomskraven, i jämförelse med FATF’s andra medlemsländer. Undersökningen baseras på FATF’s 34 medlemsländers ömsesidiga utvärderingsrapport, som vi bearbetar genom en kvantitativ undersökningsmetod. Studiens resultat visar att medlemsländernas genomsnittliga efterlevnadsnivå av samtliga rekommendationer är 53,3 %. Sverige uppfyller rekommendationerna till 51,8 %. Medelvärdet för samtliga medlemsländer beträffande åtgärderna för kundkännedom är 38,1 %. Sverige ligger under genomsnittet på 28,6 %.  Studieresultaten visar tydligt att Sveriges efterlevnadsnivå, av FATF’s samtliga rekommendationer, ligger på liknade genomsnittsnivå som övriga medlemsländer. Av samtliga 34 medlemsländer ligger Sverige på 19:e plats. Resultatet indikerar på att det behövs ytterligare insatser för att bekämpa penningtvätt på ett mer tillfredställande sätt. Vi kan även konstatera genom vår studie att Sveriges genomsnittliga efterlevnadsnivå på kundkännedomsåtgärder är betydligt lägre än övriga medlemsländers genomsnittsnivå. Av samtliga 34 medlemsländer ligger Sverige på 24:e plats. Det innebär att Sverige behöver mer målmedvetna åtgärder för de finansiella instituten och tillsynsmyndigheter för att förbättra efterlevnaden. Skillnaden i kundkännedomsregleringar kan tolkas av olika rekommendationers tillämpbarhet. Det beror på att vissa kundkännedomsrekommendationer inte är kompatibla eller tillämpbara. I vår studie har vi inte kunnat fastställa några mätbara faktorer till olikheter/likheter mellan ländernas efterlevnadsnivå utifrån granskningschecklistan, men från tidigare rapporter finns förbindelse mellan regleringsnivå i respektive land och efterlevnad. Det finns även en förbindelse mellan kostnadsstrategi och graden på efterlevnadsnivå Vilka skillnader och likheter som förekommer mellan ländernas efterlevnadsnivå har vi däremot kunnat konstatera. / Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is the main international body active in the fight against money laundering, in order to develop and improve national systems, strengthen the country's financial security and strengthen international cooperation. FATF `s recommendations, as well as its mutual evaluation program, are so powerful that they regarded as a" gold standard "for money laundering. The purpose of this paper is to identify how Sweden as a member country meets compliance with the FATF's recommendations in the audit checklist, with special emphasis on customer identification procedures, in comparison with the FATF's other member countries. The survey is based on the FATF's 34 member countries mutual evaluation report, which we process through a quantitative research method. Our results demonstrate that the Member States' average level of compliance of all the recommendations is 53.3%. Sweden fulfills the recommendations to 51.8%. The mean value of all member countries on measures of customer due diligence is 38.1%. Sweden is below average at 28.6%. The study results clearly indicate that Sweden's level of compliance, the FATF's recommendations all, is in a similar average level of other member countries. Of all the 34 member countries, Sweden is in 19th place. The results indicate that further efforts are needed to combat money laundering in a more satisfactory way. We can also observe through our study that Sweden's average levels of compliance due diligence measures are significantly lower than other Member States average. Of all the 34 member countries, Sweden is in 24th place. This means that Sweden needs more ambitious measures for financial institutions and regulators to improve compliance. The difference in customer due diligence regulations can be interpreted by different recommendations applicability. It is because some due diligence recommendations are not compatible or applicable. In our study, we have not been able to identify any measurable factors for differences / similarities between the countries' level of compliance based audit checklist, but from previous reports are connection between the level of regulation in each country and compliance. There is also a connection between the cost approach and the degree of compliance on what differences and similarities that exist between the countries' level of compliance, we have however been observed.

Magister Legum - LLM / This paper is inspired by the ills borne out of the internet. The internet has become a modern day tool for criminals seeking to conceal the proceeds derived from their crime, hence the problematic notion of cyberlaundering. This paper journeys through the world of cyberlaundering by looking into the structure of the crime in great depth. It explores various possibilities, and tries to hatch out viable solutions to the dilemma. / South Africa

Magister Legum - LLM / South Africa

This thesis advances global governance literature by focusing on the conditions under which procedural harmonisation occurs and how it is characterised. It suggests that the existence of a network of intergovernmental organisations (IGOs) complements great powers’ action and acts as a force for harmonisation in the making of international anti-money laundering (AML) standards. Procedural harmonisation is identified firstly, through a discussion on great power coalitions and how their interests set international agendas and impose compliance. Secondly, it is also recognised as an outcome of the IGOs’ network action through shared preferences, resource exchanges and stable relationships. Ultimately, the analysis determines that great powers are a necessary but not sufficient condition for procedural harmonisation, which is moreover favoured when legitimacy, expertise, and the need to achieve compliance are present. In sum, the thesis discusses the impact of international actors’ interactions in the making of international AML standards from 1989 to 2014, particularly the development of FATF Recommendations on ‘Customer Due Diligence’. The analysis identifies that the United States and the European Union, as great powers and members to the G-7, are the most influential actors. However, it adds that the IGOs network structure created between the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the United Nations, and the Committee of Experts on the Evaluation of Anti-Money Laundering Measures and the Financing of Terrorism is also a necessary actor to the achievement of procedural harmonisation. Data analysis is carried out through process-tracing, which triangulates elite interviews and non-participant observation with primary and secondary documents of legal, policy and expert nature. This thesis concludes that: a) procedural harmonisation is a product of international cooperation; b) IGOs gain influence in standard-making through network structures; and, c) procedural harmonisation may be an example to future global governance strategies if complemented with levels of legitimacy, expertise and the need to achieve compliance.

Magister Legum - LLM / Money laundering is a global problem that has adverse effects on both the developed and developing countries. If unchecked, it accelerates crime and criminal activities, affects the economy, undermines the integrity of financial markets, undermines the legitimate private sector, causes loss of revenue, poses security threats to privatisation efforts and brings about reputational risks as well as social costs.1 Given the transnational and cross-border nature of money laundering, the fight against it is global. This is why in 1989 the G72 countries decided to set up the FATF3 as a global standard-setting body for Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and combating of terrorist financing (CFT). The FATF has since developed standards for countries across the globe to adopt so as to facilitate this global fight. The standards are in the form of recommendations, and so far there are Forty Recommendations on money laundering (hereafter referred so as the Recommendations), Eight Special Recommendations on CFT, and a Ninth Special Recommendation on cash-couriers. In order to enhance its work and the adoption of its Recommendations, the FATF has also facilitated the establishment of FATF- styled regional bodies (hereinafter referred to as FSRBs) across the world. One such group is ESAAMLG, which was established in 1999. Its mandate is to coordinate and guide its member countries in the implementation of the Recommendations and guidelines. Currently, it has 15 member countries.8 Over the first ten years of its existence, among other things, ESAAMLG has through its members, achieved the following in its mandate: all members except Uganda have enacted AML legislation and some have set up structures that are essential for the implementation of the Recommendations Despite the above-mentioned achievements, the overall implementation of the Recommendations has been generally slow and low. Most of the member countries have not yet enforced their enacted AML legislation as evidenced by low rate of money laundering prosecutions in the region. Some have not yet established financial intelligence Units (FIUs) nor ratified or domesticated important AML related international legal instruments, let alone train personnel adequately. The international instruments comprise the 2000 United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime (Palermo Convention) and the1988 United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Vienna Convention). There are also inordinate delays in the passing of AML legislation as well as the amendment of other domestic legislation, which is necessary in order to harmonise such laws with the AML standards. This gives rise to unevenness, disconnectedness and time variability in the implementation of the Recommendations among the member countries. The main question this paper seeks to answer is this: Are there obstacles to the implementation of the Recommendations in Eastern and Southern Africa?

Magister Legum - LLM / From failing to arrest and surrender Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir1 in accordance with its obligations under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court2 (Rome Statute), to its President acting inconsistently with its Supreme law3, it is evident that the rule of law is under threat in South Africa. Furthermore, South Africa has witnessed the cultivation of a culture of impunity for corruption in high office. South Africa has also experienced an increase in heinous crimes committed against women and children. The South African Rand recently plummeted given that its Minister of Finance Pravin Gordhan, recently faced charges of fraud4, as well as the ripple effect caused by the Fees Must Fall Movement.5 Against the backdrop of the above-mentioned issues that plague South Africa and hinder its development, the fight against money laundering hardly seems of pivotal importance in achieving the desired stability and development of the country. There is a public perception that money laundering is a crime of little consequence.8 This perception derives from the fact that money laundering does not have a direct impact on its victims and in some instances benefits the economy as it increases the profits for the financial sector and results in a greater availability of credit.9 Laundered money arguably is not harmful but rather beneficial to developing economies because money remains money, whether it is proceeds of crime or honestly earned.10 Although an increase in money is appealing to developing countries, the benefits that accompany laundered money are short-lived as the crime affects society adversely in the long run.11 However, where a country fails to prevent and prosecute money laundering offences, the prevalence of money laundering will impede the development of a state as it not only increases the profitability of crime and encourages the prevalence of corruption, but it also causes damage to critical financial sector institutions.12 Money laundering influences the commission of crimes that generate large amounts of profit, namely, organised crime, which is often described as the twin brother of money laundering.13 This is because criminals do not commit crimes to make money only but to enjoy this money as well.14 However, criminals need to launder their money in order to enjoy the proceeds of their criminal activities without drawing attention to these activities.15 Countries that combat money laundering effectively make it more difficult for criminals to launder the proceeds of their crimes. It becomes more risky for them to indulge in their ill-gotten gains, thus dissuading them from engaging in economic criminality.16 Money laundering is a process where the proceeds of crime are concealed and disguised in order to make them appear lawful.17 Criminals are thus able to enjoy the financial benefits of the crimes they commit.18 The pervasiveness of money laundering in a country does not only affect the confidence the public have in the country’s financial institutions but also undermines the confidence foreign investors and financial institutions have in a developing state’s financial institutions.19 A country can, therefore, run the risk of not benefitting from foreign direct investment.20 The financial institutions rely heavily on what the public think about their integrity.21

Magister Legum - LLM