The Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) is Thailand's "key agency responsible for enforcement of the anti-money laundering and the counter-terrorism financing law."[1]: 7 It was founded in 1999 upon the adoption of the Anti-Money Laundering Act, B.E. 2542 (1999) (AMLA).[2] AMLO is an independent governmental agency. It has the status of a department functioning independently and neutrally under the supervision of the minister of justice, but is not part of the justice ministry.[1][3] In 2016, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha ordered by the cabinet resolution change the command to under the supervision of the Prime Minister directly.[4]
| สำนักงานป้องกันและปราบปรามการฟอกเงิน | |
 AMLO headquarters on Phaya Thai Road in 2016 | |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 19 August 1999 |
| Jurisdiction | Kingdom of Thailand |
| Headquarters | Pathum Wan, Bangkok, Thailand |
| Employees | 399 |
| Annual budget | 374.1 million baht (FY2017) |
| Agency executive |
|
| Parent Agency | Office of the Prime Minister |
| Website | Official website |
The AMLO 2016 Annual Report reported 369 AMLO positions allocated, with 49 positions vacant, plus 30 government employee positions, with two vacancies.[3]: 26 Its budget for FY2017 (1 October 2016 to 30 September 2017) is 374.1 million baht.[5]: 89
As of 30 September 2016, the AMLO had custody of seized and/or frozen assets valued at 6,176,029,774.12 baht.[3]: 50 It conducted 12 asset auctions during FY2016, selling 910 items of assets for 57,893,949 baht.[3]: 51
From 29 June to 14 August 2018 AMLO was headed by Secretary-General Police Major General Romsit Viriyasan. He was moved to an "inactive post" in the prime minister's office for failing to expedite politically sensitive cases.[6] Pol Maj Gen Preecha Chareonsahayanon was named acting secretary-general.[7]
Panama Papers
editIn April 2016, AMLO began investigating Thai nationals whose names surfaced in the Panama Papers.[8][9]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b Annual Report 2014 (PDF). Bangkok: Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO). 2015. ISBN 978-616-91467-7-3. Retrieved 13 April 2016.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Anti-Money Laundering Act, B.E. 2542 (1999)" (PDF). Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO). Retrieved 13 April 2016.
- ^ a b c d Annual Report 2016 (PDF). Bangkok: Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO). 2017. ISBN 978-616-8111-01-7. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
- ^ "โอนย้าย "สำนักงาน ปปง." ขึ้นตรง "นายกรัฐมนตรี"". 17 March 2015.
- ^ Thailand's Budget in Brief, Fiscal Year 2017 (PDF). Bureau of the Budget (Thailand). 2016. Retrieved 21 February 2017.
- ^ Bootsripoom, Attayuth (16 August 2018). "Romsit loses AMLO post for failure to expedite politically sensitive cases". The Nation. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
- ^ Laohong, King-Oua (18 August 2018). "Amlo steps up efforts as it turns 20". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 18 August 2018.
- ^ "'Many' Thais implicated in global scandal". Bangkok Post. 4 April 2016. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
- ^ Taptim, Tulsathit (13 April 2016). "Panama Papers and weary regulators in Thailand". Editorial. The Nation. Retrieved 13 April 2016.