Anti Money Laundering Legal Services
If you are dealing with an investigation or charges for money laundering, prepare to face legal and financial consequences. Money laundering involves making monetary proceeds from unlawful activity appear legitimate through financial transactions and concealment such as moving money around banks or making illegitimate purchases.
At Read & Co Law, our money laundering lawyers and AML solicitors are experienced in defending yourselves against these allegations. We provide a structured approach if you or your company are facing serious anti-money laundering issues.
Our approach is grounded in careful analysis of financial evidence, detailed understanding of procedural obligations and strategic defence planning. We assist clients throughout investigations and prosecution to protect their rights and navigate the legal process with clarity.
Money Laundering Act in Malaysia
Money laundering offences in Malaysia are governed by the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.
This statute makes it an offence to deal with proceeds of unlawful activity in a way that disguises their origin or makes them appear legitimate, and it provides for measures to prevent and prosecute such conduct, including the freezing and forfeiture of property involved in or derived from criminal activity.
Conviction under this law carries substantial penalties and may also involve significant financial sanctions, reflecting the serious public interest in combating financial crime
Our AML Solicitors Approach
- Early Exposure Assessment
Money laundering charges under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 often arise together with predicate offences such as fraud or corruption. We assess the investigation stage, alleged unlawful activity and potential criminal exposure from the outset.
- Financial Evidence Review
Money laundering cases turn on transaction records, asset movements and statutory thresholds. Our money laundering lawyers analyse banking documents, asset flows and related evidence to determine how the prosecution alleges the funds were received, transferred or concealed.
- Procedural and Statutory Scrutiny
Investigations may involve multiple enforcement agencies and asset-freezing powers. We examine whether investigative steps, seizures and statements comply with statutory and procedural requirements under Malaysian law.
- Strategic Defence and Representation
From responding to enforcement inquiries to defending charges in court, our role is to challenge whether the prosecution can satisfy the legal elements of a money laundering offence and to protect your rights at every stage.
Types of AMLA Matters We Handle
| Money laundering investigations & charges | Asset freezing, seizure & forfeiture proceedings |
| Cash transactions & suspicious financial activities | Corporate & business-related money laundering offences |
| Cross-border fund transfers & offshore accounts | Bail, remand & court applications in AMLA cases |
Other Practice Areas
Criminal forfeiture proceedings
Common Questions on Money Laundering (FAQ)
Under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (AMLATFPUAA) is provided under s. 4(1) which is the offence of money laundering itself.
The punishment as provided is prison of up to 15 years and a fine of not less than 5 times the amount charged or RM5m whichever is the higher.
AMLATFAPUA 2001
The 3 stages are Placement, Layering, and Integration.
Placement is when the proceeds of crime enters the financial system. This is most of the time the first point of detection. The person receives his proceeds of crime in cash (or crypto) then deposits it into a bank.
Layering is when there is an attempt to distance the funds from the illicit source eg. by transferring to other accounts supposedly as legitimate business transactions, moving money between countries. The point of this is to make detection and the money trail difficult for enforcement.
Integration is when the laundered funds are reintroduced into the economy ie used as if it were clean money.
However, the way the AMLATFAPUA is drafted, mere knowing receipt of proceeds of unlawful activity is already an offence.
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