Countering the Financing of Terrorism

Singapore is committed to the fight against terrorism and its financing. To effectively deal with terrorism financing threats, Singapore has developed a robust strategy built on a well-organised network of government agencies, working in partnership with commercial and private parties.

As part of our efforts to counter terrorism, an Inter-Ministry Committee on Terrorist Designation (IMC-TD) was formed in 2012 to act as Singapore's authority for the designation of terrorists. Designation prohibits any person or entity from dealing with or providing any financial assistance to designated terrorists, as required under the Terrorism (Suppression of Financing) Act.

This Committee consists of members from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Commercial Affairs Department/Singapore Police Force, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Monetary Authority of Singapore, and Attorney-General's Chambers.

See also: Our approach to anti-money laundering and countering terrorism financing

 

Lists of Terrorist Designations


The names of persons or entities who have been designated as terrorists are transmitted to the relevant government ministries and agencies, financial institutions and FATF DNFBPs.

You can also access them via the following:

 

What Happens Upon Listing and De-Listing


When a person or entity has been designated as a terrorist, all funds or assets are frozen and dealings with the designated subject and its funds or assets are prohibited with immediate effect.

Once they have been de-listed as a terrorist, the obligation to freeze no longer exists. The funds or assets that have been frozen can therefore be unfrozen.

 

Process of Listing and De-Listing

The IMC-TD is responsible for the listing and de-listing of persons/entities as terrorists within our domestic legislation - the First Schedule of the TSOFA.


Pursuant to obligations under the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1373, the IMC-TD will determine if there are reasonable grounds to designate the following:

a. Any person or entity who commits or attempts to commit terrorist acts, or who participates in or facilitates the commission of terrorist acts
b. Any entity owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by any person or entity designated in (a) above
c. Any person or entity acting on behalf of, or at the direction of, any person or entity designated in (a)


The IMC-TD can also propose for the listing and de-listing of persons/entities as terrorists within the United Nations’ ISIL (Da’esh) & Al Qaida Sanctions List and UN Taliban List.

Pursuant to obligations under the UNSCR 2368, IMC-TD will determine if there are reasonable grounds to propose to the United Nations Security Council Committee [1] the following persons or entities:

a. Participating in the financing, planning, facilitating, preparing, or perpetrating of acts or activities by, in conjunction with, under the name of, on behalf of, or in support of;
b. Supplying, selling or transferring arms and related materiel to;
c. Recruiting for;
d. Or otherwise supporting acts or activities of Al-Qaida, ISIL, or any cell, affiliate, splinter group or derivative thereof

[1] The UN Security Council Committee pursuant to UNSCR 1267 (1999), UNSCR 1989 (2011) and UNSCR 2253 (2015) concerning ISIL (Da’esh), Al-Qaida, and associated individuals, groups, undertakings and entities oversees the sanctions measures imposed by the Security Council.


Pursuant to obligations under UNSCR 2252, the acts or activities indicating that an individual, group, undertaking or entity is eligible for designation include:

a. Participating in the financing, planning, facilitating, preparing or perpetrating of acts or activities by, in conjunction with, under the name of, on behalf of, or in support of;
b. Supplying, selling or transferring arms and related materiel to;
c. Recruiting for;
d. Or otherwise supporting acts or activities of, those designated and other individuals, groups, undertakings and entities associated with the Taliban in constituting a threat to the peace, stability and security of Afghanistan


Appeal for De-Listing


A designated individual, group, undertaking or entity can submit a request to be de-listed.

Those designated under the UN ISIL (Da’esh) and Al Qaida Sanctions List may submit a de-listing request to an independent and impartial Ombudsperson who has been appointed by the UN Secretary General.

For details, refer to the sanctions committee’s website.


Those domestically designated pursuant to UNSCR 1373 may write in to MHA to appeal for de-listing.


Anyone, including designated persons or entities, may also contact MHA if they inadvertently had their funds or assets frozen under the above-mentioned UNSCRs; for example, because of a false positive.

The authorities will assess all such requests based on criteria set out in the relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions.

Contact MHA at:

Inter-Ministry Committee on Terrorist Designation (IMC-TD)
c/o Ministry of Home Affairs
New Phoenix Park
28 Irrawaddy Road
Singapore 329560
Tel : 6478 7010
Fax : 6254 6250


Legislation


The TSOFA is the domestic legislation to suppress the financing of terrorism.

Sections 3 to 6 of the TSOFA expressly prohibits the following:

  • Provision and collection of property for terrorist acts
  • Provision of property or services for terrorist purposes
  • Use or possession of property for terrorist purposes
  • Dealing with property of terrorists or terrorist entity
Under the TSOFA, a person convicted of contravening sections 3 to 6 will be liable to a maximum fine of $500,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years, or both. In any other case, to a fine not exceeding the higher of (i) $1 million or (ii) twice the value of the property (including funds derived or generated from the property), financial services or other related services, or financial transaction.

Every person in Singapore and every citizen of Singapore outside of Singapore must inform the Police immediately if they have information about these transactions or proposed transactions related to any property, funds or other assets belonging to any terrorist or terrorist entity.

In addition to prohibiting financial transactions that will benefit terrorists and terrorists entities in the commission of terrorist acts, Part IV of the TSOFA also empowers enforcement agencies to seize, freeze and confiscate terrorist property.

If there are suspected financing activities, provisions under the Criminal Procedure Code may also be used to seize suspected funds. A notice will be served on institutions and counterparties not to transact with the terrorist.

All current legislation can be found at Singapore Statutes Online.

 

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