FINTRAC imposes an administrative monetary penalty on Montecristo Jewellers Inc.
News Release
May 12, 2022, Ottawa Ontario
FINTRAC announced today that it has imposed an administrative monetary penalty on Montecristo Jewellers Inc. This precious metals and precious stones dealer in Vancouver, British Columbia, was imposed an administrative monetary penalty of $222,750 on February 17, 2022, for non-compliance with Part 1 of the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act and its associated Regulations.
Montecristo Jewellers Inc. was found to have committed the following violations:
- Failure to submit a suspicious transaction report where there were reasonable grounds to suspect that transactions were related to a money laundering offence;
- Failure to develop compliance policies and procedures that sufficiently cover the requirements related to business relationships and the ongoing monitoring of business relationships;
- Failure to fully assess and document the money laundering or terrorist activity financing risk of its geographic locations and its clients and business relationships; and
- Failure of its ongoing compliance training program to ensure employees had an adequate understanding of requirements for suspicious transaction reports.
Quote
"Canada's Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorist Financing Regime is in place to protect the safety of Canadians and the security of Canada's economy. FINTRAC is committed to working with businesses to help them understand and comply with their obligations under the Act. At the same time, we will be firm in ensuring that businesses continue to do their part and we will take appropriate actions when they are needed."
Quick Facts
- As Canada's financial intelligence unit and anti-money laundering and anti-terrorist financing regulator, FINTRAC ensures that businesses subject to the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act comply with their obligations under the Act and its Regulations. The Centre also analyzes information and discloses financial intelligence to police, law enforcement and national security agencies to assist their investigations of money laundering, terrorist activity financing and threats to the security of Canada.
- Casinos, financial entities, money services businesses, real estate brokers and sales representatives, and several other business sectors are required under the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act to keep certain records, identify clients, maintain a compliance regime and report certain financial transactions to FINTRAC.
- FINTRAC's Administrative Monetary Penalties program is one of the most open and transparent of its kind, including in relation to penalty calculations.
- With the changes to the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act in 2019, FINTRAC is required to make public the name of all persons and entities that receive an administrative monetary penalty.
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Media Relations
Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada
613-947-6875
media.medias@fintrac-canafe.gc.ca
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