Last week, in connection with the bringing into force of the Freezing Assets of Corrupt Foreign Officials (Ukraine) Regulations on March 5, 2014 under the Freezing Assets of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act, FINTRAC issued an advisory note cautioning Canadians, both locally and abroad, of the prohibition against (i) dealing, directly or indirectly, in any property, wherever situated, of a listed politically exposed foreign person; (ii) entering into or facilitating, directly or indirectly, any financial transaction related to a dealing referred to in (i); and (iii) providing financial services or other related services in respect of any property of a listed politically exposed foreign person. A politically exposed foreign person is one that is named in the regulations under Schedule 1 and includes, among others, certain former Ukrainian officials.

Under the FACFOA generally, Canadians are required to advise the Commissioner of the RCMP if they are in possession or have control over property of any of the corrupt foreign officials listed in the regulation, as well as provide information in respect of any transaction or proposed transaction relating to such property.

For further details, see the March 7, 2014 FINTRAC Advisory.

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.