Sun Life Investments Bermuda Fined $1.5 Million
The Bermuda Monetary Authority has imposed civil penalties totalling $1,500,000 on Sun Life Financial Investments [Bermuda] Ltd pursuant to the provisions of section 20 of the Proceeds of Crime [Anti-Money Laundering & Terrorist Financing Supervision & Enforcement] Act 2008, and restricted the Company’s Investment Business licence pursuant to section 20 of the Investment Business Act 2003.
The BMA said, “The civil penalties have been imposed for the Company’s failure to comply adequately with the following requirements of the Proceeds of Crime [Anti-Money Laundering & Anti-Terrorist Financing] Regulations 2008 [the Regulations]:
- i] The application of Customer Due Diligence [CDD] measures;
- ii] Ongoing monitoring of business relationships;
- iii] Ceasing transactions where it is not possible to apply CDD measures;
- iv] The application of Enhanced Due Diligence; and
- v] The establishment and maintenance of appropriate and risk sensitive policies and procedures.
“Some of the findings represented failings of the Company to adequately remediate similar findings from an onsite review conducted in 2013.
“The Authority views these breaches as serious because of their extent and duration, and because they demonstrated systemic weaknesses in the Company’s internal AML/ATF controls. The Regulations have been in effect since 2009.
“This case highlights the importance of licensees having in place up-to-date AML/ATF policies and procedures which are appropriate, effective and fully implemented in order to avoid the risk of financial products being used as a vehicle for money laundering or terrorist financing.
“In determining the appropriate level for these civil penalties, the Authority took account of the fact that in December 2015 the Company closed its investment business to new sales.
“The Authority also took account of the Company’s full cooperation during the onsite process. The Company has agreed to implement enhanced controls to ensure compliance in the future.
“The Authority has also imposed the following restrictions on the licence:
- i] The Company is prohibited from accepting or soliciting any new investment business;
- ii] The Company is prohibited from making or permitting any redemptions or withdrawals from any existing policy or account unless such policy or account has been verified as compliant by an approved third party;
- iii] The Company is prohibited from accepting or permitting any payments into any existing policy or account; and
- iv] The Company is required to demonstrate to the Authority on a regular basis that it is making significant progress to remediate existing files to the standards provided for by the statutes and regulations, to do so in conjunction with a suitably qualified third party provider, and to complete the remediation plan within a period of 24 months.
“The Authority considered that it was necessary to impose these restrictions to reduce the risk of money laundering/terrorist financing and because it was in the best interests of the investors.
“The restrictions will remain in place until the Authority is satisfied by way of independent verification [the costs of which are to be met by the Company] that the Company is fully compliant with its obligations.
“The breaches outlined above came to light during an onsite review of the Company’s activities conducted by the Authority in May 2016. Thereafter the statutory process was followed, culminating in a 28-day appeal period which terminated on 24th February 2017.”
“The decision was not appealed,” the BMA added.
In response, Niall O’Hare, President, Sun Life Financial Investments [Bermuda] Ltd, said: “We are aware of the announcement today from the Bermuda Monetary Authority regarding the closed investments business of Sun Life Financial Investments [Bermuda] Ltd. This business has been closed to new sales since January 1, 2016.”
“We are working cooperatively with the Bermuda Monetary Authority and have agreed to implement appropriate controls to ensure that we are in compliance with both the license restrictions and applicable regulations moving forward.”
“We place the highest priority on compliance with all requirements and regulations and on meeting our obligations to Clients.”
