KUALA LUMPUR: Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) has imposed administrative monetary penalties of RM1.04 million on Zurich General Insurance Malaysia Bhd (ZGIMB) and RM520,000 on Zurich General Takaful Malaysia Bhd (ZGTMB) for non-compliance with targeted financial sanction (TFS) requirements on Jan 19.
In a statement today, the central bank said that, as reporting institutions (RIs), Zurich entities are required to update their sanctions database without delay upon publication of the Domestic List.
It said that all RIs must comply with TFS requirements and that it will not hesitate to take supervisory and/or enforcement action against those that fail to meet legal and regulatory obligations.
They should also conduct sanctions screening on existing, prospective and new customers against both the Domestic List and the United Nations Security Council Resolutions List as part of customer due diligence.
RIs must also ascertain potential matches and make further inquiries to determine whether such matches are true matches.
"Upon determination of any true match, RIs are required to freeze the customer’s funds and submit a report to BNM and the Royal Malaysia Police immediately. This is essential to protect RIs and the broader financial system from being abused for terrorism financing activities,” the central bank said.
BNM said the breaches were identified based on Zurich’s reports on the onboarding of several specified entities listed in the Domestic List as customers, arising from its failure to promptly update its sanctions database, which led to screening being conducted against outdated information.
It added that Zurich also failed to ascertain potential matches and undertake further inquiries to determine whether these were true matches.
Additionally, ZGIMB failed to freeze funds and report to BNM immediately upon determining that it was in possession or control of funds linked to one specified entity.
The central bank said the breaches were attributed to gaps in Zurich’s sanctions screening systems and standard operating procedures, as well as insufficient staff oversight and awareness.
Zurich has since taken remedial measures, including enhancements to its procedures and refresher training for relevant staff to strengthen compliance with TFS requirements.
In determining the penalties, BNM said it considered aggravating and mitigating factors, including the severity of the breaches, lack of reasonable care in ensuring compliance, past compliance record, and post-misconduct conduct, including the effectiveness of remedial actions.
ZGIMB paid RM1.04 million and ZGTMB Zurich General Takaful Malaysia Bhd RM520,000 on Jan 26, in respect of the penalties imposed. - Bernama
