This paper examines how the Wolfsberg Anti-Money Laundering Principles came into being. It charts their subsequent development and also looks at what the Wolfsberg Group of banks may tackle in the future.
In many countries, criminal investigations are primarily directed towards the investigation of the underlying criminality. It is still comparatively rare for investigators, as a routine part of the investigation of major proceeds-generating offences, to “follow the money”. To trace money and property successfully, the investigator must be equipped to uncover and identify ownership interests often camouflaged by changes in the form and nature of the ownership.
Development efforts will remain frustrated so long as corrupt leaders continue to steal their countries' wealth and dispose of these ill-gotten gains in foreign jurisdictions. The prevention of such looting, and the recovery of the stolen assets are thus critical development issues and a cornerstone of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (2003) (UNCAC). However, to date experience with asset recovery is limited, and a number of legal and other obstacles continue to impede progress.
Switzerland is frequently accused of being reluctant to take thorough measures to fight money laundering. Both the Swiss authorities and the banks in Switzerland strongly reject such accusations. We are convinced that our anti-money laundering measures are best market practice.
Promising young researcher Stefan Mbiyavanga has been selected to present his latest work at the OECD Global Anti-Corruption & Integrity Forum on 20 and 21 March 2019.
Stefan's application was among the top 10 of 146 entries to the OECD's Youth ResearchEdge Competition, which provides a platform for young researchers to present fresh insights and evidence on corruption-related topics.
Gemma Aiolfi, Head of Compliance, Corporate Governance and Collective Action at the Basel Institute of Governance, will be speaking at the 10th International Conference of Financial Crime and Terrorism Financing (IFCTF) 2018. Organised by the Asian Institute of Finance, the conference will take place on 30–31 October 2018 in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur. The theme this year is: The rising voice of compliance – towards greater governance and transparency.
Registration is now open for the annual Arbitration and Crime workshop on 8 January 2021. Organised by the Arbitration and Crime Competence Centre, the event brings together leading arbitrators, lawyers, academics and other experts from around the world.
This year's workshop, which will take place virtually on Zoom and is open free of charge to all, will feature the following panels:
In collaboration with the Basel Institute on Governance, the Competence Centre for Arbitration and Crime is planning a two-day workshop that brings together arbitrators, lawyers, forensics, academics, students and representatives of NGOs from around the world.
The workshop, entitled International Arbitration and Corruption: A Toolkit for Arbitrators, takes place at the Faculty of Business and Economics, Basel University, on Thursday 10 and Friday 11 January 2019.
The most recent special issue of the International Development Policy journal explores the topic of African Cities and the Development Conundrum. The issue includes an article co-authored by the Basel Institute's Head of Governance Research, Dr Claudia Baez Camargo, and Dr Lucy Koechlin of the University of Basel.
The Public Governance team of the Basel Institute on Governance has contributed an entry to the recent Public Administration Review's Blog Symposium dedicated to the topic of corruption. The title of the entry is "Informal networks: the invisible drivers of corruption and implications for anti-corruption practice".