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Danish government looks to tighten screws on money laundering banks
Ray W
June 20th, 2016
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This article is more than 8 years old.
New initiatives on the table aim to strengthen efforts against banks that are helping customers avoid taxes
Minister Poulsen is on the lookout for tax cheats…and perhaps a hair stylist (photo: Adville)
The financial supervisory authority Finanstilsynet (FSA), in connection with its ‘Panama Papers’ investigation, is asking eight banks for an explanation of activities that hint at their possible involvement in money laundering and tax evasion.
Commerce and Growth minister Troels Lund Poulsen and Karsten Lauritzen, the tax minister, told parliament that they are looking to bring anyone found to have violated the law to justice.
“It is unacceptable that a number of Danish banks, in clear violation of legislation, have apparently contributed to money laundering,” said Poulsen.
“It is also troubling that in its preliminary report, the FSA concluded that there exists a culture at several of the banks where not enough focus is placed on the importance of money laundering rules.”
Task force formed
The government effort to ensure that banks comply with the law will include a task force made up of tax authority SKAT, the FSA and the Commerce and Growth ministry.
“The individual executives and directors of banks are responsible for compliance with the rules,” said Poulsen.
“The government will analyse whether the current rules should be strengthened, and there is apparently also a need for closer interaction between FSA and SKAT, which we are now initiating.”
READ MORE: SKAT gunning for Danes named in Panama Papers
Poulsen also said that the parties involved are discussing raising the fines on banks violating financial laws.
Meanwhile, FSA is continuing its investigation into those banks named in the Panama Papers.
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