AML Weekly Recap and Insights | Week 14th - 18th April 2025

Apr 18, 2025

Dear AML Professionals,

Another week has come to an end, bringing with it key developments and insights in the world of financial crime compliance.

If you want to learn what to expect this year in the area of anti-financial crime, download the Anti-Financial Crime 2025 Report! Packed with expert contributions and practical guidance, it’s a must-read for compliance professionals navigating today’s challenges.

Download the Report for free

How Transparency Builds Trust..

In compliance, clarity is everything. When people don’t know what’s expected, or why decisions are made, they hesitate. They second-guess. They play it safe or stay quiet.

That’s where transparency comes in.

Transparency doesn’t mean sharing every detail. As a leader, you need to keep some information confidential. Transparency means being clear with your team - about goals, priorities, decisions, and expectations. It means explaining the “why” behind a policy change, or why one risk takes precedence over another.

When leaders are transparent, teams trust the direction. They move faster. They take ownership. They collaborate better, because everyone’s on the same page.

Lack of clarity, on the other hand, creates friction. People start interpreting rules differently. Accountability weakens. And small gaps turn into bigger ones.

If you want stronger controls, fewer silos, and better outcomes - be transparent. Trust your people. You are dealing with professionals, not kids!

Remember: Compliance doesn’t work in the dark. People need to know where they stand, and what they’re working toward.

With this thought, I wish you a happy Friday!

Anna

Here are some interesting news related to financial crime this week:

Peru: Former President Sentenced for Money Laundering: Ollanta Humala, ex-president of Peru, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison - alongside his wife, Nadine Heredia - for laundering campaign funds received from Odebrecht and the Venezuelan government. This marks the third Peruvian president in two decades to be jailed over corruption tied to the Odebrecht scandal, which continues to expose systemic political-financial crime across Latin America.
UK Scrutinizes Abuse of Company Registrations: UK lawmakers are taking a closer look at how fake or misleading company registrations are being used to commit fraud and launder money. A new parliamentary sub-committee heard from Companies House and anti-corruption experts about how shell companies are being misused, and whether recent might elimiate these abuses. Although Companies House gained stronger powers in 2023, concerns remain that the UK is still too easy to exploit for sanctions evasion and tax crime.