OFSI has released its Annual Report for 2018-2019.
In it OFSI reports that it received 99 reports of suspected sanctions breaches with a value of £262 million.
UK – OFSI’s third monetary penalty
OFSI has today imposed a fine of £146,341 against Telia Carrier UK Limited for breaches of the EU’s Syrian sanctions.
The breaches arose out of Telia facilitating telephone calls for SyriaTel which is a designated person under the EU sanctions. The phone connections were treated as “economic resources” for the purposes of the sanctions.
The fine in this instance was reduced from £300,000 after Telia opted to seek a ministerial review of OFSI’s penalty.
UK – HMRC imposes fine on UK person for unlicensed exports
Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has today published details of a compound penalty of £10,234.26 imposed on a UK exporter/trader.
The penalty was in relation to unlicensed trading of body armour. The goods were not exported from the UK, but the transaction involved a UK national.
The Notice to Exporters noted that the Export Control Order 2008 requires a trade control licence when certain goods are exported from a country other than the UK, and that exporters should be aware that trafficking and brokering military goods outside the UK will need a trade control licence, even if the goods do not pass through the UK.
UK – FCA imposes fine of £102m
The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority has issued a Decision Notice against Standard Chartered Bank including a fine of £102,163,200.
The fine related to KYC failings in general, with a focus on failure to conduct customer due diligence even in situations where sanctions red flags were evident. The FCA noted a lack of financial crime risk, and concerns as to the quality of the advice being given.
A particular focus were the UAE branches of the bank, and also export financing in relation to the export of military goods.
UK – HMRC fines exporter £82,152.33
The UK’s HMRC has today announced that it has fined a UK exporter £82,152.33 for the unlicensed exports of military goods.
The identity of the exporter, and of the destination for the goods, were not published.
UK – OFSI imposes further financial penalty
OFSI has today imposed a £10,000 penalty on Travelex Limited in relation to a £204 transaction involving the funds of a designated person.
This penalty is factually related to the same transaction as was the subject of OFSI’s first penalty.
While the fine itself is very small, that OFSI has imposed a fine in relation to such a small transaction is perhaps itself of significance.
UK – HMRC compound penalties for three companies for export control breaches
It has been announced today that the UK’s HM Revenue & Customs has issued compound penalties ranging between £1,000 and £4,000 to 3 separate UK Exporters.
These related to unlicensed exports of dual use goods and export breaches controlled by The Export Control Order 2008.
UK – OFSI imposes its first ever financial penalty
The UK’s Official of Financial Sanctions Implementation has today imposed its first financial penalty.
The penalty relates to a single transaction of £200 relating to funds of a designated person under the Egyptian sanctions.
The bank, Raphaels Bank, self reported to OFSI.
The initial fine was £10,000 reduced to £5,000 in acknowledgment of the self-reporting.
UK – company pleads guilty and is fined £7,039
It has been reported today that the British company, VWR International Limited, has pleaded guilty to four counts of exporting dual-use chemicals and metals to Pakistan, Jordan and South Africa.
The exports were undertaken either without a licence or despite being denied an export licence.
The company was fined £7,039.
UK – three convicted of exporting military goods to Iran
Following a trial at Southwark Crown Court three individuals have been convicted of exporting parts for military aircraft to Iran in breach of sanctions.
Alexander George was given a custodial sentence of 2 and a half years, while Paul Attwater and Iris Attwater were sentenced to suspended sixth months in prison.
The shipments were sent in the name of a BVI company, via, Netherlands, Malaysia and Dubai, but were destined for Iran.