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Year Subject Description
2016 Forgery

Report (STR): The AML/CFT compliance officer of a local bank noticed an increase in cash deposits while performing the enhanced due diligence measures for high-risk customers’ accounts as called for in the risk-based approach regulations. One of the accounts reflected repetitive cash deposits followed by checks issued to numerous parties and was kept at a minimum balance. The officer became dissatisfied with the clarifications made to justify the source of the cash deposits, the reason for several bounced checks and the relationship between the account holder and the beneficiaries of the checks. Furthermore, the requested supporting documents received were self-contradictory, misleading and some appeared to be forged. An STR was consequently filed with the SIC. 

Analysis & Investigation: The SIC initiated its investigation by analyzing bank records and the account statement obtained from the reporting bank. In addition to the increase in cash deposits which had become inconsistent with the customer’s profession, the analysis of the account movement reflected check deposits with several endorsements, and transactions with unassociated business parties. In an effort to identify other bank accounts related to the suspect, the SIC broadened its investigation and forwarded his name to all banks and financial institutions. Several additional accounts were identified, and the analysis thereof depicted a similar pattern of transactions. 

During the course of the investigation, additional information was received from the General Prosecutor on the suspect’s possible involvement in acts of forgery of signature that resulted in both the unlawful use of a bank account and of a checkbook belonging to a relative and business partner. 

Subsequent Measures: With the information at hand, the SIC decided to lift banking secrecy and freeze all identified bank accounts. Findings were forwarded to the General Prosecutor.

2016 Drug Trafficking

Report (ROA): The SIC received a request of assistance, via the Egmont Secure Web (ESW), from a European counterpart FIU. The requesting FIU was seeking assistance in an ongoing money laundering and drug trafficking investigation involving several suspects, including two that were Lebanese nationals. 

Analysis and investigation: The SIC initiated its investigation by circulating the names of the suspects to all banks and financial institutions operating in Lebanon. Findings revealed the existence of one bank account belonging to one of the suspects. The said account reflected minimal activity, including several cash deposits below the threshold followed by cash withdrawals. The SIC also broadened its investigation and contacted in this regard local law enforcement authorities seeking information on criminal records, convictions and warrants. Information received from the ISF on one of the suspects revealed the existence of several arrest warrants and Interpol communications in prior years for acts of fraud and drug trafficking.

Subsequent measures: The SIC decided to lift banking secrecy, freeze the account balance of the suspect, and forward the findings to the General Prosecutor. The information at hand was also shared with the counterpart FIU.

2016 Cybercrime

Report (STR): A longtime customer of a local bank who regularly imports goods from abroad provided the bank with details of an overseas account, and instructed the latter to settle via swift an amount of 250 thousand euros for cost of goods purchased. A few days later, the customer claimed that the payment details were wrong, and that the supplier’s e-mail was hacked. At the same time, the correspondent bank asked for clarifications regarding the same swift. As such, the bank requested from both the correspondent and the receiving bank abroad to return the funds, and filed an STR with the SIC. 

Analysis & Investigation: The SIC initiated its investigation by reviewing all relevant records, documents and invoices submitted by the reporting bank, confirming that the supplier’s e-mail was hacked and that the overseas bank account was different from that used in previous settlements. The SIC contacted a European counterpart FIU seeking information on the bank account that received the transfer, and was advised that an individual had opened the account several days prior to receiving the funds. The said transfer was the only transaction credited to the newly opened account and was followed by cash withdrawals and transfers to another bank in the same European country. The first bank was able to block an amount of 170 thousand euros and wire it back. The counterpart FIU advised that in order to recover the remaining funds from the second bank, a mutual legal assistance request was needed. It also provided the name of the account holder at the second European bank, and a search of the SIC database revealed that he was subject to previous cybercrime investigations. 

Subsequent Measures: With the information at hand that also included input from the judicial police-cybercrime office, the SIC decided to forward its investigation findings to the General Prosecutor, and highlighted the need for a mutual legal assistance request. The SIC also requested from the counterpart FIU to take the necessary measures to freeze the funds at the second bank.

2016 Corruption

Report (ROA): The Special Investigation Commission received a request of assistance from the Lebanese General Prosecutor concerning allegations of corruption and embezzlement of public funds brought against several employees working for a government agency. Some had colluded to embezzle employee benefits while others executed dubious procurement dealings with vendors and suppliers. Banking information among other things was needed to complement the ongoing investigation. 

Analysis and investigation: The SIC initiated its investigation by circulating the names of the suspects to all banks and financial institutions operating in Lebanon. Several bank accounts were identified. An analysis was carried out on the obtained bank records and the statements that reflected checks, transfers and cash deposits as well as credit card transactions. 

Subsequent measures: During the ongoing investigations, and as a precautionary measure, the SIC temporarily froze the balances of the identified accounts for a six month period subject to renewal. The SIC later on lifted banking secrecy, provided the General Prosecutor with the findings and extended the freezing order.

2015 Terrorism Financing

Report (ROA): The Special Investigation Commission received a request of assistance from the Lebanese General Prosecutor concerning several Lebanese nationals suspected of being affiliated with terrorist groups.

Analysis & Investigation: The SIC initiated its investigation by circulating the names of the suspects to all banks and financial institutions operating in Lebanon to identify whether or not they had transactions or maintained accounts. Three banks reported having bank accounts for some of the suspects and a money remittance company provided information on several transactions. The SIC obtained the related bank records and the transactions from the money remittance company, and also carried out the needed analysis. The analysis revealed that the bank accounts were depleted by cash transactions and had minimal balances, whereas the money remittance transactions were received from abroad.

Subsequent Measures: The SIC decided to lift banking secrecy off related bank accounts, freeze them and forwarded the findings to the General Prosecutor.

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2021 TBML Risk-Indicators
The FATF Methodology for Assessing Technical Compliance with the FATF Recommendations and the Effectiveness of AML/CFT Systems - 2013
2020 TBML Trends & Developments
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FATF: High risk and other monitored Jurisdictions
Central Bank of Lebanon
Banking Control Commission of Lebanon
The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
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