Singapore Takes a Tough Stance Against Terrorism Financing
In its effort to combat the menace of terrorism financing (TF), Singapore has strengthened its cooperation with relevant stakeholders and taken decisive law enforcement actions.
Zero-Tolerance Stance
According to the National Counter-Terrorism Financing Strategy 2022, the country’s authorities have worked closely with the Internal Security Department (ISD) and the Suspicious Transaction Reporting Office (STRO) to ensure that all credible instances of TF are thoroughly investigated. The strategy emphasizes a zero-tolerance stance against any TF activity, and law enforcement agencies will not hesitate to take swift and effective actions against terrorists, terrorist entities, and their supporters.
Convictions and Imprisonment Terms
Since 2016, the Attorney-General’s Chambers has prosecuted and secured convictions against 13 individuals for TF, with lengthy imprisonment terms sought and successfully obtained. This demonstrates Singapore’s commitment to combating TF and bringing perpetrators to justice.
Public-Private Partnerships
To enhance operational efficiency and establish relevant networks, Singapore has established public-private partnerships such as the CFT Operational Group under the Anti-Criminal Intelligence Platform (ACIP). This workgroup brings together key stakeholders to share CFT-related trends and strengthen their understanding of terrorism/TF risks within different sectors. The composition of the group takes into consideration the TF risk landscape faced in Singapore and includes relevant industry players, such as:
- Banks
- Money remittance agents
- Payment service providers
- Government stakeholders
Future Collaboration and Cooperation
Looking ahead, the Counter-Terrorism Financing Branch (CFTB), ISD, and STRO will continue to collaborate closely to ensure all instances of TF are promptly detected and investigated. They will also seek heavy and proportionate sentences against convicted perpetrators that commensurate with the severity of the offenses.
Identifying Material TF Risks
The authorities have identified material TF risks, including:
- Illicit cross-border cash movements
- Unlicensed money remittances
These risk areas have been identified as key TF risk areas for Singapore. To mitigate these risks, relevant agencies have come together to reinforce operational frameworks through robust detection and investigation.
International Cooperation
Singapore’s efforts in international cooperation for criminal matters can be broadly considered from two dimensions:
- Providing assistance to other jurisdictions
- Seeking assistance from them
The country is committed to rigorously implementing and contributing to the development of international standards on combating money laundering/terrorist financing/proliferation set by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.
Singapore’s Commitment to Combating Terrorism Financing
Singapore has demonstrated its commitment to combating terrorism financing through:
- Strong cooperation with international partners
- Robust law enforcement actions
- Effective public-private partnerships
The country’s zero-tolerance stance against TF activities sends a clear message that it will not tolerate any form of support or promotion of such violence. As the world continues to grapple with the evolving threat of terrorism, Singapore remains steadfast in its efforts to prevent and disrupt TF activities. Its commitment to international cooperation and development of best practices in combating ML/TF/PF sets an example for other countries to follow.