Anti Money Laundering News 29 Dec 2025

Anti Money Laundering News (22 Dec – 29 Dec 2025)

Welcome to this week’s edition of the Global AML News Weekly Digest. Here are the top stories making headlines around the world:

UAE Central Bank Revokes Omda Exchange Licence and Imposes Dh10 Million Fine

The Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates (CBUAE) has revoked the operating licence of Omda Exchange, removed the company from its official list of authorised entities, and slapped a Dh10 million (AED 10 million) financial penalty after uncovering serious regulatory breaches. The enforcement action followed supervisory examinations that identified multiple violations of UAE banking laws and related regulations by the foreign exchange firm. The move, taken under the Decretal Federal Law governing the Central Bank and financial institutions, underscores the regulator’s strict oversight to ensure compliance, transparency, and the integrity of the UAE’s financial system.

(Gulf News)

FINRA Fines Osaic Institutions $650,000 for Anti-Money Laundering Program Failures

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has censured and fined Osaic Institutions $650,000 after determining the firm’s anti-money laundering (AML) compliance program was not reasonably designed to meet Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) standards. The enforcement action highlighted significant gaps in the firm’s surveillance, customer due diligence, and escalation of red flags, particularly in relation to money movements and clients in higher-risk jurisdictions.

From September 2021 through late 2024, Osaic Institutions failed to maintain adequate policies and procedures to consistently detect and review suspicious activity reports, leading to inconsistent monitoring and delayed reviews of exception reports. As part of the settlement, a senior executive must certify within 60 days that the firm has fully remediated these AML deficiencies per FINRA Rule 3310.

(investmentnews.com)

Norsk Tipping Faces Yet Another Fine from Norwegian Authorities Over Lottery Compliance Failures

Norwegian state-owned gaming operator Norsk Tipping is facing its sixth regulatory fine of the year from the Norwegian Lottery Authority (Lotteritilsynet), this time due to failures in its anti-money-laundering (AML) systems and other compliance deficiencies flagged by regulators. This latest enforcement action continues a pattern of compliance issues that have seen the operator repeatedly sanctioned for technical errors in lottery draws, failures in self-exclusion functions, and incorrect prize notifications — issues that have eroded public trust and triggered increased regulatory scrutiny. The mounting fines reflect systemic weaknesses in Norsk Tipping’s controls and oversight mechanisms, prompting warnings from authorities that more stringent enforcement and remediation will be required going forward.

(amlnetwork.org)

BaFin Fines flatexDEGIRO Bank €560,000 for Misleading “Free” Investment Advertising

Germany’s financial regulator, BaFin, has imposed administrative penalties totaling €560,000 on flatexDEGIRO Bank AG for breaching marketing rules under the German Securities Trading Act (WpHG). The fines stem from practices in early 2022 where the bank advertised “free investment services” on its websites without clearly disclosing that customers would be charged a regular processing fee, a requirement under fair and transparent marketing standards.

BaFin’s enforcement underscores the legal obligation for investment service providers to present both the benefits and costs of their offerings in a balanced and unambiguous manner to protect investors from potentially misleading communications. Although flatexDEGIRO later aligned its practices with legal requirements, the regulator held the bank accountable for the earlier violations.

(Finance Magnates)

Malaysia’s Najib Razak Convicted in 1MDB Trial — Verdict Raises Political Stability Concerns

Former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak has been found guilty on multiple counts of abuse of power and money laundering in the largest criminal trial linked to the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal, a multibillion-dollar corruption case that has rocked Malaysian politics for years.

The Kuala Lumpur High Court concluded that Najib abused his official powers and oversaw illegal transfers of state fund assets, ruling there was sufficient evidence tying him to fraud and illicit proceeds. Over $4.5 billion is alleged to have been stolen from 1MDB, with more than $1 billion traced to accounts linked to Najib, though he has consistently denied wrongdoing.

Najib faces multiple concurrent prison terms — including up to 15 years for abuse of power — and hefty fines potentially running into billions of ringgit. The verdict comes as a litmus test for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s governing coalition, which includes Najib’s United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), and could strain political alliances and public confidence in Malaysia’s anti-corruption efforts.

(Reuters)

Sri Lanka’s FIU Fines Seven Financial Institutions Rs. 9.5 Million for Regulatory Non-Compliance

Sri Lanka’s Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), operating under the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL), has imposed administrative penalties totaling Rs. 9.5 million on seven financial institutions for failing to comply with provisions of the Financial Transactions Reporting Act and related regulations during the third quarter of 2025. The sanctions reflect lapses in reporting large transactions and other compliance requirements designed to bolster anti-money-laundering (AML) and counter-terrorism financing (CFT) controls in the country’s financial system. The collected penalties were credited to the Consolidated Fund as part of broader efforts to reinforce regulatory adherence within the sector.

(dailynews.lk)

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