Financial Crime World

Chapter II: Duties of Financial Institutions and Professions

Retention of Information and Due Diligence Records

Section 2226: Retention of Customer Identification Information

  • Financial institutions must retain information about customer identification for five years after the account is closed or the relationship with the customer terminates.
  • This ensures that financial institutions can provide necessary information to authorities in case of suspicious transactions.

Section 20/1: Due Diligence Records

  • Financial institutions and professions under Section 16(1) and (9) must keep due diligence records for five years from the date the account was closed or relationship terminated.
  • This allows for a thorough review of transactions and helps prevent money laundering activities.

Exemptions


  • The provisions of Chapter II do not apply to the Bank of Thailand under the law on Bank of Thailand (Section 23).
  • This exemption is in place due to the Bank of Thailand’s unique status as a central bank, with its own set of regulations and oversight mechanisms.

The Anti-Money Laundering Board

Establishment

  • There shall be an Anti-Money Laundering Board, consisting of members including:
    • The Prime Minister as Chairman
    • Minister of Justice and Minister of Finance as Vice Chairmen
    • Various government officials
    • Nine qualified experts appointed by the Council of Ministers (Section 2429)
  • This board is responsible for overseeing efforts to prevent money laundering in Thailand.

Powers and Duties


  • The Board has powers and duties such as:
    • Proposing measures for anti-money laundering
    • Establishing rules and procedures for assessing risks related to money laundering
    • Recommending guidelines to prevent such risks
    • Others (Section 2530)
  • These powers enable the board to effectively monitor and address potential money laundering activities in Thailand.