A-31-10 OBA

On 28 February 2024, the Federal Office of Police's Interdepartmental Coordination Group on Combating Money Laundering and the Financing of Terrorism (Fedpol) presented its second report on the money laundering risks associated with digital assets (i.e. digital assets based on blockchain technology such as Bitcoin or Ethereum). The report is of interest to financial intermediaries active in this area - in particular compliance functions - and proposes various recommendations to improve the fight against money laundering. It also highlights certain[...]

In ruling 6B_1176/2022 of December 5, 2023, the Swiss Federal Supreme Court overturns the acquittal of the former Chairman of the Board of Directors of a bank by the Court of Appeal of the Swiss Federal Criminal Court on the charge of violation of the duty to report under art. 37 para. 2 AMLA. The background is as follows. Albert was CEO of a bank from September 1, 2008 to September 30, 2012, before becoming Chairman of the Board of[...]

On October 19, 2023, the FATF published its fourth enhanced follow-up report on Switzerland since the 2016 mutual evaluation. The report is limited to Switzerland's progress in improving its compliance with Recommendations 10 (due diligence) and 40 (international cooperation). The FATF has highlighted three main improvements (two in connection with recommendation no. 10, one in connection with recommendation no. 40). The first is the amendment, with effect from January 1, 2023, of art. 4 para. 1 AMLA, which now expressly[...]

The Federal Council's preliminary draft revision of the anti-money laundering provisions, put out to consultation on August 30, is, in part, déjà vu. Indeed, when the Money Laundering Act (AMLA) was last amended - and came into force less than nine months ago - a parliamentary majority curtly refused to make certain activities linked to the creation and management of domiciliary companies or trusts subject to the AMLA. As the representative of the Federal Council pointed out during the parliamentary[...]