The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has fined Guaranty Trust Bank UK (GT Bank) £7.7 million (US$9.4 million) for serious weaknesses in its anti-money laundering (AML) systems and controls between October 2014 and July 2019. The bank provides export, import,… Read More ›

L/Cs
Trade finance banks risk higher penalties under revised US antiboycott rules
Trade finance banks operating in the US risk higher penalties under a policy issued by Washington aimed at strengthening and enhancing enforcement of the antiboycott rules administered by the US department of commerce. The rules prohibit US support for unsanctioned foreign… Read More ›
J P Morgan strategic alliance with Cleareye.ai to identify TBML and sanctions red flags
J P Morgan has entered into a global strategic alliance with California-based artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) platform Cleareye.ai to digitise trade finance due diligence processing. The alliance aims to identify trade-based money laundering (TBML) and sanctions red… Read More ›
Former CFO of collapsed commodity trader accused of fraudulently obtaining L/Cs
The former chief financial officer (CFO) of commodity trader Agritrade International which collapsed last year has been charged by Singapore police with cheating. Lim Beng Kim Lulu is accused of obtaining letters of credit (L/Cs) and procuring forged certificates of… Read More ›
Standard Chartered free to seek new assets in US$770 million gold and diamond fraud after judge restores UK-incorporated shell companies
Standard Chartered Bank has more chance of taking possession of assets attached to alleged Indian gold and diamond fraudster, Jatin Mehta, after a judge in the UK high court restored four suspected shell companies. The bank was one of several… Read More ›
UAE launches blockchain platform to curb double-financing and misinvoicing
The UAE has launched a blockchain-based trade finance platform aimed at curbing double-financing and misinvoicing. UAE Trade Direct then intends turning to other key areas of trade finance, such as digitalising bills of lading and e-invoices and, in time, expects… Read More ›
Global Witness says Libya loses millions via fraudulent L/Cs, central bank defends position
A new report published by Global Witness (GW) claims to show that Libya continues to lose millions of dollars a year through the fraudulent use of its letters of credit (LC) system run by the Central Bank of Libya (CBL)…. Read More ›
Komgo and Mitech announce collaboration to guard against fraud and facilitate L/C transactions
Commodity trade finance blockchain platform Komgo and specialist trade finance fintech Mitech have announced a collaboration to allow users to create an immutable document to guard against fraud and falsification. The collaboration will also provide users with straight through processing… Read More ›