Freedom of Information

Public Authority: Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit (FIAU, also referred to as “the unit”)

Description of the Unit’s Structure

View Organigram

The Board of Governors is responsible for the policy to be adopted by the Unit, which is to be executed and pursued by the Director, and to ensure that the Director carries out this policy accordingly. The Board is also responsible for advising the Minister for Finance on any matters and issues relevant to the prevention, detection, analysis, investigation, prosecution and punishment of money laundering and funding of terrorism (ML/FT) offences.

The Director is responsible for carrying out the operations and functions of the FIAU and for executing the policies established by the Board. The Director is assisted by permanent staff organised in various sections/departments, which are:

  1. The Intelligence Analysis section, which is composed of financial analysts who are responsible for the receipt and analysis of Suspicious Transaction Reports (STRs) and the dissemination of analytical reports and other financial intelligence to the Police and other competent local and international authorities.
  2. The Supervision section, which is responsible for monitoring compliance by subject persons with the relevant legislative anti-money laundering and counter financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) provisions, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), the Prevention of Money Laundering and Funding of Terrorism Regulations (PMLFTR) and the FIAU Implementing Procedures.
  3. The Enforcement section is primarily focused on addressing AML/CFT breaches committed by subject persons. This involves taking enforcement actions and following up on the implementation of necessary remedial measures. It strives to adhere to international standards, ensuring that administrative measures are proportionate, effective, and dissuasive.
  4. The Legal Affairs section is split into two distinct teams. The International Relations team advises the Unit on legal matters and manages the Unit’s international affairs. The Guidance and Outreach team supports subject persons in their AML/CFT obligations through the publication of implementing procedures, guidance notes, interpretative documents, training and responding to queries
  5. The Cash Restriction section is entrusted to monitor and ensure compliance with the Use of Cash (Restriction) Regulations (S.L. 373.04). The Regulations prohibit transactions in cash amounting to, or exceeding €10,000, when purchasing or selling of legally defined specific high-value goods.
  6. The Data Management and Analytics section oversees the administration of the Centralised Bank Account Register (CBAR), which was introduced in October 2020, serving as a searchable database encompassing bank and payment accounts identifiable by an IBAN, safe custody services (SCS), and safe deposit boxes (SDB) offered by credit and financial institutions. It also has two additional teams, one with a focus on Data Analytics and the other on Data Management.
  7. The People and Corporate Services section, encompasses four different teams, Payroll & Finance, People Performance & Culture, Logistics, Administration & Procurement and Communications & PR. This section is responsible for the various human, logistical and administrative needs of the Unit.
  8. The Technology and Information Security section, is divided into two teams, Business Applications and Network Security, ensuring that all the Unit’s technical, security and day to day IT needs are catered for.
  9. The Strategy, Policy, and Quality Assurance section, which is responsible for carrying out reviews and audits on the operations of the Unit’s various sections, as well as ensuring that working methodologies, policies and procedures are adhered to. It also hosts the Training and Development Team and Programme Management.

Description of the Unit’s functions and responsibilities

The responsibilities of the FIAU aimed at combating ML/FT emanate from the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), which include:

  1. The receipt and analysis of STRs, carrying out financial analysis and dissemination of analytical reports to the police, as well as other financial intelligence to other competent authorities.
  2. The monitoring of compliance by subject persons with AML/CFT obligations.
  3. The support and training of subject persons in their AML/CFT obligations.
  4. The implementation of administrative measures as required, in relation to AML/CFT breaches.
  5. The international co-operation with counterpart FIUs, supervisory authorities and law enforcement authorities on ML/FT related matters.
  6. Other ancillary functions.

General description of the categories of documents the Unit holds (including exempt documents)

This is a generic list of categories of documents held by the various sections of the FIAU, including sensitive and exempt documents:

  1. The Corporate Services section of the FIAU holds files and data in relation to its employees or contractual obligations;
  2. The Financial Analysis section, in reviewing STRs and preparing analytical reports, handles and stores confidential financial intelligence and documents;
  3. The Compliance section is in possession of documents and information sourced from subject persons in the preparation of or to carry out compliance assessments and other documents related to the enforcement of breaches of AML/CFT obligations;
  4. In providing legal advice to other sections of the Unit, the Legal section would be in possession of documents pertaining to these sections, subject to certain confidentiality restrictions. The Legal section is also in possession of draft legislation and draft guidance documents as well as reports issued by other agencies and regulatory bodies on legislative initiatives;
  5. The IT and Information Security section holds documents related to the Unit’s IT and security processes; and
  6. The Policy and Quality Assurance section holds documents pertaining to the Unit’s various sections, subject to certain confidentiality restrictions.

This is a condensed, non-exhaustive list of the documents held by the Unit, including sensitive and exempt documents:

• Supervisory files, including CDD data, information and documents on subject persons’ customers, reports on findings of FIAU representatives during examinations carried out on the subject persons, and information sourced from subject persons in the preparation of or to carry out supervisory examination;

• Policies and procedures pertaining to subject persons

• Correspondence between subject persons and the FIAU on AML/CFT queries

• Enforcement files, including court related matters as well as files related to follow-up actions to ensure remediation decisions

• Reports of suspicion of ML/FT, analysis and case files

• REQs submitted by SPs

• Register on accounts identifiable by IBAN, safe deposit boxes and safe custody services

• Information in relation to suspicious cash transactions

• Reports issued by other agencies and regulatory bodies on legislative initiatives

• Draft legislation

• Draft guidance and consultation documents

• Human Resources (HR) and employee related files

• Information regarding subscriptions to memberships/warrants

• Training related sponsorship agreements for the Unit’s employees

• Records of all training attended by employees, as well as any training materials

• Public Procurement Suppliers’ files, contracts and agreements

• Tenders and tender-related documents

• Banking matters

• Finance and audit files

• Suppliers’ invoices files

• Budgets/Forecast Management Accounts files

• Operations Receipts file and payment log for the Compliance and Supervisory Platform for Assessing Risk (“CASPAR”)

• FOI requests

• Parliamentary Questions

• Statistics and statistical data

• Questionnaire/survey responses

• Annual reports

• Assessment reports

• Notices on penalties

• Project files

• Correspondence with foreign and national competent authorities on AML/CFT matters

• General legal advice

• Template and signed contracts/agreements/MoUs

• Agenda and minutes of meetings

• IT related data, documents and information

• Security related footage and recordings

• Data in relation to high value good transfers

• Information obtained and received by the Cash Restriction Section

• Press related material; and

• General communication with other authorities

Owing to the sensitive and confidential nature of the documents held by the FIAU, the Unit deals with requests made by the public for information it holds on a case-by-case basis.

The following includes a condensed list of the manuals and other related documents held by the Unit:

• Internal Operations Procedures, Policies and Manuals;

• International Standards, EU legislation, national legislation and guidance documents or procedures on AML/CFT matters;

• Staff Handbook

• Data Protection and Freedom of Information policies and procedures

The Freedom of Information Officer (FOIO) of the FIAU is Catherine Zammit.

E-mail: [email protected]

Telephone: +356 21231333.

Details of Internal Complaints Procedure

An applicant whose request for information is refused, or who is otherwise not satisfied with the information provided, its format or the extension of the deadline for the submission of the notification indicating whether a request would be met or not, may submit a complaint to the FIAU by e-mail to the following e-mail address [email protected] or by mail to the following address: Trident Park, No. 5, Triq l-Mdina, Central Business District Birkirkara, CBD 2010.

The complaint should be addressed to the FIAU’s FOI Officer, Ms Catherine Zammit, who will bring the complaint to the attention of the officer responsible. The officer responsible will reply to the applicant within 10 working days from the receipt of the complaint. The applicant will also be informed that he/she may appeal the decision or otherwise address a complaint to the Information and Data Protection Commissioner in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act (Cap. 496 of the Laws of Malta).

The officer responsible will inform the applicant of the decision taken on his/her complaint and, in the event of confirmation of a decision not to release the pertinent information, will explain the reasons why. Whenever the applicant’s complaint is related to the format of the information provided or to an extension of the deadline for the submission of the notification indicating whether a request would be met or not by the Department, and the original decision is upheld, the applicant will be given an explanation as to why his/her complaint cannot be positively addressed.

An applicant may also make use of the Internal Complaints Procedure to report failure to meet deadlines or to send notifications. In those cases where the request for information can be met, but has not been met within the deadlines specified by the Act, the officer responsible will waive any applicable fees for the submission of information.

Other Information
Working hours:

September 15 to July 15 – Monday to Friday, 8 am-5 pm
July 16 to September 14 – Monday to Friday, 8 am-1.30 pm.

Forms are available on the website www.foi.gov.mt. Fees may be paid by cheque.

Public Authority Contact Details

Address: Trident Park, No. 5, Triq l-Mdina, Central Business District Birkirkara, CBD 2010.
Telephone: +356 21231333

Website: https://fiaumalta.org/.
MFIN FOI websitehttps://finance.gov.mt/resources/freedom-of-information/.

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