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Gambling flagged as suspicious transaction reports rise

WILDFIRE: Gambling, particularly online sports betting, has exploded in popularity in the country PIC: MICROSOFT BING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
WILDFIRE: Gambling, particularly online sports betting, has exploded in popularity in the country PIC: MICROSOFT BING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

The Financial Intelligence Agency (FIA) has picked the use of “high value cash in gambling” as one of the emerging patterns contributing to a rise in suspicious transaction reports that more than doubled to P139.1 million in five months.

By law, banks, bureaux de change, car dealers, microlenders, attorneys, and others must file suspicious transaction reports with the FIA.

The agency defines a suspicious transaction as one inconsistent with a customer’s known legitimate business, one that gives rise to a reasonable suspicion that may involve the commission of a financial offence, one made in circumstances of unusual or unjustified complexity, one that appears to have no economic justification or lawful objective or made by or on behalf of a person whose identity is unknown, amongst other factors.

Editor's Comment
Justice delayed is development denied

The P300 million internal roads tender is a case study. A bidder’s complaint revealed alleged irregularities. A tribunal ordered a re-evaluation.The council and the initial winner appealed to the High Court. Now, the Ministry of Local Government and Traditional Affairs, frustrated by the delay, writes to the council suggesting the tender be cancelled, and an alternative procurement model be explored, while the matter is still before the courts....

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