FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE UNIT

Suspicious Transaction Report

SECTION 17(4)(b) OF THE MONEY LAUNDERING & TERRORISM (PREVENTION) ACT, 2008
SECTION 7(3) OF THE FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE UNIT ACT, 2002
(Complete all applicable parts - See Instructions)

Part I Reporting Entity/Financial Institution Information 1

1. Name of Reporting Entity/Financial Institution

2. Address of Reporting Entity/Financial Institution

3. Address of Branch Office(s) where activity occurred

4. Account number(s) affected, if any

Closed Closed
a Yes No
 c_ Yes No


b Yes No
 d_ Yes No


Part II Suspect Information Suspect Information Unavailable

5. Last Name or Name of Entity 6. First Name 7. Middle Name

8. Address

9. Phone Number – Residence 10. Phone Number – Work

11. Occupation/Type of Business 12. Date of Birth 13. Admission/Confession?

_/ /
MM DD YYYY a Yes b No
14. Forms of Identification for Suspect:

a Driver’s License b Passport c Social Security Card d Other

Number Issuing Authority

15. Relationship to Reporting Entity/Financial Institution:

a Accountant c Attorney e Customer h Officer

b Agent d Borrower f Director i  Shareholder

g Employee j Other

16. Is the relationship an insider relationship? a Yes b No 17. Date of Suspension, Termination, Resignation

If Yes specify: c Still employed at reporting entity/financial institution / /

MM DD YYYY
d Suspended e Terminated f Resigned

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Part III Suspicious Activity Information 2

18. Date or date range of suspicious activity 19. Total dollar amount involved in known or suspicious activity

From / / To_____/ /______

MM DD YYYY MM DD YYYY

20. Summary characterization of suspicious activity:

a Money Laundering f Computer Intrusion l Debit Card Fraud

b Bribery g Consumer Loan Fraud m Defalcation/Embezzlement
c Check Fraud h Counterfeit Check n False Statement
d Check Kiting i Counterfeit Credit/Debit Card o Misuse of Position
e Commercial Loan Fraud j Counterfeit Instrument (other) p Mortgage Loan Fraud
q Mysterious Disappearance
r Wire Transfer Fraud

s Other
(Type of Activity)

21. Amount of loss prior to recovery 22. Dollar amount of recovery (if applicable) 23. Has the suspicious activity had a
(if applicable) material impact on, or otherwise
affected, the financial soundness of
the reporting entity/institution?

a Yes b No

24. Has any law enforcement agency already been advised by telephone, written communication, or otherwise? a Yes b No

Agency Name

25. Name of person(s) contacted at Law Enforcement Agency 26. Phone Number

Part IV Contact for Additional Information

27. Last Name 28. First Name 29. Middle Initials

30. Title/Occupation 31. Phone Number 32. Date Prepared

/ /
MM DD YYYY

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Part V Suspicious Activity Information Explanation/Description 3

Explanation/description of known or suspected violation of f Indicate where the possible violation took place (e.g., main
law or suspicious activity. office, branch, other).
g Indicate whether the possible violation is an isolated incident or
This section of the report is critical. The care with which it is relates to other transactions.
written may make the difference in whether or not the described h Indicate whether there is any related litigation; if so, specify.
conduct and its possible criminal nature are clearly understood. i Recommend any further investigation that might assist law
Provide below a chronological and complete account of the enforcement authorities.
possible violation of law, including what is unusual, irregular or j Indicate whether any information has been excluded from this
suspicious about the transaction, using the following checklist as report; if so, why?
you prepare your account. If necessary, continue the narrative k If you are correcting a previously filed report, describe the
on a duplicate of this page. changes that are being made.

a Describe supporting documentation and retain for

5 years. For Money Laundering reports, include the following additional information:
b Explain who benefited, financially or otherwise, from the
transaction, how much, and how. l Indicate whether currency and/or monetary instruments were
c Retain any confession, admission, or explanation of the involved. If so, provide the amount and/or description of the
transaction provided by the suspect and indicate to whom instrument (for example, bank draft, letter of credit, money order,
and when it was given. traveler’s checks, wire transfers sent or received, cash, etc.).
d Retain any confession, admission, or explanation of the m Indicate any account number that may be involved or affected.
transaction provided by any other person and indicate to
whom and when it was given.
e Retain any evidence of cover-up or evidence of an
attempt to deceive federal or state examiners or others.

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 Suspicious Transaction Report
Instructions
Section 17(4)(b) of the Money Laundering and Terrorism (Prevention) Act (MLTPA), 2008, imposes a statutory
obligation on all reporting entities/financial institutions and their staff to report suspicions of money laundering
transactions to the Supervisory Authority, to wit the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU).

Section 17(12) of the MLTPA exempts a reporting entity/financial institution and their employees, staff, directors,
owners or other representatives as authorized by law, from criminal, civil, disciplinary and/or administrative
liability, as the case may be, for complying with Section 17(4)(b) of the MLTPA or for breach of any restriction on
disclosure of information imposed by contract or by any legislative, regulatory or administrative provision,
regardless of the result of the communication.

Reporting Entities/Financial institutions are required to file a Suspicious Transaction Report with the FIU on all
complex, unusual or large business transactions, unusual pattern of transactions (whether completed or not) and
insignificant but periodic transactions that have no apparent economic or lawful purpose.

In situations involving violations requiring immediate attention, such as when a reportable violation is
ongoing, the reporting entity/financial institution shall immediately notify, by telephone, appropriate
law enforcement and financial institution supervisory authorities in addition to filing a timely
Suspicious Transaction Report with the FIU.

WHEN TO MAKE A REPORT:

1. All reporting entities/financial institutions operating in Belize, including any person whose regular
occupation or business is, the carrying on of any activity listed in the First Schedule of the MLTPA and any
other activity defined by the Minister of Finance as such by an Order published in the Gazette amending the
First Schedule of the MLTPA.

a. Transactions that involve potential money laundering. Any transaction (which for purposes of this
subsection means a deposit, withdrawal, transfer between accounts, exchange of currency, loan,
extension of credit, purchase or sale of any stock, bond, certificate of deposit, or other monetary
instrument or investment security, or any other payment, transfer, or delivery by, through, or to a
entity/financial institution, by whatever means effected) conducted or attempted by, at or through the
entity/financial institution and involving funds or other assets, if the reporting entity/financial institution
knows, suspects, or has reason to suspect that:

i. The transaction involves funds derived from illegal activities or is intended or conducted in order
to hide or disguise funds or assets derived from illegal activities (including, without limitation, the
ownership, nature, source, location, or control of such funds or assets) as part of a plan to violate
or evade any law or regulation or to avoid any transaction reporting requirement under law;

ii. The transaction is designed to evade any regulations promulgated under the MLTPA; or

iii. The transaction has no business or apparent lawful purpose or is not the sort in which the
particular customer would normally be expected to engage, and the reporting entity/financial
institution knows of no reasonable explanation for the transaction after examining the available
facts, including the background and possible purpose of the transaction.

b. Violations where a suspect can be identified. Whenever the entity/financial institution detects any
known or suspected criminal violation, or pattern of criminal violations, committed or attempted against
the entity/financial institution or involving a transaction or transactions conducted through the
entity/financial institution and involving funds or other assets, where the entity/financial institution
believes that it was either an actual or potential victim of a criminal violation, or series of criminal
violations, or that the entity/financial institution was used to facilitate a criminal transaction, and the
entity/financial institution has a substantial basis for identifying a possible suspect or group of suspects. If
it is determined prior to filing a Suspicious Transaction Report that the identified suspect or group of
suspects has used an “alias,” then information regarding the true identity of the suspect or group of
suspects, as well as alias identifiers, such as drivers’ licenses or social security numbers, addresses and
telephone numbers, must be reported.

c. Violations regardless of a potential suspect. Whenever the entity/financial institution detects any
known or suspected criminal violation, or pattern of criminal violations, committed or attempted against
the entity/financial institution or involving a transaction or transactions conducted through the
entity/financial institution and involving funds or other assets, where the entity/financial institution
believes that it was either an actual or potential victim of a criminal violation, or series of criminal
violations, or that the entity/financial institution was used to facilitate a criminal transaction, even though
there is no substantial basis for identifying a possible suspect or group of suspects.

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d. Insider abuse. Whenever the entity/financial institution detects any known or suspected criminal
violation, or pattern of criminal violations, committed or attempted against the entity/financial institution
or involving a transaction or transactions conducted through the entity/financial institution, where the
entity/financial institution believes that it was either an actual or potential victim of a financial criminal
violation, or a series of financial criminal violations, or that the entity/financial institution was used to
facilitate a financial criminal transaction, and the entity/financial institution has a substantial basis for
identifying one of its directors, officers, employees, agents or other institution-affiliated parties as having
committed or aided in the commission of a financial criminal act regardless of the amount involved in the
violation.

2. A reporting entity/financial institution is required to promptly file a Suspicious Transaction Report after the
date of initial detection of facts that may constitute a basis for filing a Suspicious Transaction Report.
If no suspect was identified on the date of detection of the incident requiring the filing, a reporting
entity/financial institution may delay filing a Suspicious Transaction Report to identify a suspect.
In no case shall reporting be delayed more than 3 calendar days after the date of initial detection of a
reportable transaction.

3. A Suspicious Transaction Report does not need to be filed for those robberies and burglaries that are
reported to law enforcement authorities, or for lost, missing, counterfeit, or stolen securities that are
reported to law enforcement authorities.

HOW TO MAKE A REPORT:

1. Send each completed Suspicious Transaction Report with supporting documentation to:

Financial Intelligence Unit

4998 Coney Drive Plaza
PO Box 2197
Belize City, BELIZE

2. For items that do not apply or for which information is not available, leave blank.
3. Identify and retain a copy of the Suspicious Transaction Report and all original supporting documentation
or business record equivalent for 5 years from the date of the Suspicious Transaction Report.
4. If more space is needed to report additional suspects, attach copies of page 1 to provide the additional
information.

DEFINITIONS
A. Reporting Entity/Financial Institution – Any person whose regular occupation or business is the
carrying on of any activity listed below:

1. Acceptance of deposits and other repayable funds from public.

2. Lending, including consumer credit, mortgage credit, factoring (with or without recourse) and
financing of commercial transactions.
3. Financial leasing.
4. Transfer of money or value.
5. Money and currency changing (such as Casa de Cambios).
6. Pawning.
7. Issuing and administering means of payment (such as credit and debit cards, traveller’s cheques,
money orders, bankers draft and electronic money).
8. Issuing financial guarantees and commitments.
9. Trading for own account or for account of customers in money market instruments (such as
cheques, bills, certificates of deposit, derivatives), foreign exchange, financial futures and
options, exchange and interest rate instruments, transferable securities and commodity futures
trading.
10. Credit unions.
11. Participation in securities issues and the provision of financial services related to such issues.
12. Advice to undertakings on capital structure, industrial strategy and related questions, and advice
and services relating to mergers and the purchase of undertakings.
13. Portfolio management and advice whether individual or collective.
14. Safekeeping and administration of securities.
15. Safekeeping and administration of cash or liquid securities on behalf of other persons.
16. Otherwise investing, administering or managing funds or money on behalf of other persons.
17. Gambling houses.
18. Casinos.

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 19. Internet Casinos or Online Gaming.
20. Buying or selling of gold bullion.
21. Insurance business.
22. Venture risk capital.
23. Unit Trusts.
24. A trust or company services provider not otherwise covered by this schedule, which as a
business, provides an of the following services to third parties:
 Acting as a formation agent of legal persons;
 Acting as (or arranging for another person to act as) a director or secretary of a company, a
partner of a partnership, or a similar position in relation to other legal persons;
 Providing a registered office; business address or accommodation, correspondence or
administrative address for a company, a partnership or any other legal person or
arrangement;
 Acting as (or arranging for another person to act as) a trustee of an express trust; and
 Acting as (or arranging for another person to act as) a nominee shareholder for another
person.
25. International (or Offshore) banking business as defined in the International Banking Act.
26. Lawyers, notaries, other independent legal professionals, accountants, auditors and tax advisers,
when they prepare for or carry out transactions for their clients concerning the following
activities:
 Buying and selling of real estate;
 Managing of client money, securities or other assets;
 Management of bank, savings or securities accounts;
 Organization of contributions for the creation, operation or management of companies;
 Creation, operation or management of legal persons or arrangements, and buying and selling
of business entities.
27. Dealing in real estate when the persons dealing are involved in transactions concerning the
buying and selling of real estate.
28. Dealing in precious metals and dealing in precious stones.
29. Dealing in vehicles.
30. Engaging in international financial services as defined in the International Financial Services
Commission Act.
31. Business operation in a free zone area.
32. Non-governmental organizations.

B. Transaction – A transaction shall include:

a) opening of an account;
b) any deposit, withdrawal, exchange or transfer of funds in any currency whether in cash or by
cheque, payment order or other instrument or by electronic or other non physical means;
c) the use of a safety deposit box or any other form of safe deposit;
d) entering into any fiduciary relationship;
e) any payment made or received in satisfaction, in whole or in part, of any contractual or other
legal obligation;]
f) any payment made in respect of a lottery, bet or other game of chance;
g) an act or combination of acts performed for or on behalf of a client in connection with purchasing,
using or performing one or more services, or
h) such other actions as may be prescribed by the Minister by Order published in the Gazette.