On November 28, 2016 a comprehensive bill of law on asset laundering was sent to Parliament. After discussion in the Senate it was sent to a Special Commission for review, and the Commission has called on different public and private sector members to hear their positions on the subject. Participating in the discussion, among others, has been the Association of Notaries of Uruguay, the Association of Accountants, Economists and Administrators of Uruguay, and the National Anti-Asset Laundering and Terrorism Financing Secretariat (SENACLAFT).
The project adds to the list of nonfinancial obligated persons including, under the conditions established in the bill and as to be determined in the regulations, free trade zone indirect users, suppliers of corporate services, trusts, civil associations, foundations, political parties, all nonprofit organizations with or without legal entity status, and public accountants.
To the list of predicate offenses to asset laundering the bill adds tax fraud, bankruptcy fraud, customs fraud, homicide, theft, robbery, home invasion, cattle theft, and criminal conspiracy. These offenses are included with specification of the amounts and conditions for constituting the crimes indicated in the bill. One such condition that is repeated in several of the new predicate offenses is commission of the offense by organized crime groups, as specifically determined under the new regulations.
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