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]
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
In April 2016, AMLO began investigating Thai nationals whose names surfaced in the Panama Papers.[8][9]
See also
References
