43A Failure to disclose knowledge or suspicion of money laundering.

1

A person is guilty of an offence if—

a

he knows, or suspects, that another person is engaged in drug money laundering,

b

the information, or other matter, on which that knowledge or suspicion is based came to his attention in the course of his trade, profession, business or employment, and

c

he does not disclose the information or other matter to a constable or to a person commissioned by the Commissioners of Customs and Excise as soon as is reasonably practicable after it comes to his attention.

2

Subsection (1) above does not make it an offence for a professional legal adviser to fail to disclose any information or other matter which has come to him in privileged circumstances.

3

It is a defence to a charge of committing an offence under this section that the person charged had a reasonable excuse for not disclosing the information or other matter in question.

4

Where a person discloses to a constable or a person so commissioned—

a

his suspicion or belief that another person is engaged in drug money laundering, or

b

any information or other matter on which that suspicion or belief is based,

the disclosure shall not be treated as a breach of any restriction imposed by statute or otherwise.

5

Without prejudice to subsection (3) or (4) above, in the case of a person who was in employment at the relevant time, it is a defence to a charge of committing an offence under this section that he disclosed the information or other matter in question to the appropriate person in accordance with the procedure established by his employer for the making of such disclosures.

6

A disclosure to which subsection (5) above applies shall not be treated as a breach of any restriction imposed by statute or otherwise.

7

In this section “drug money laundering” means doing any act which constitutes an offence under—

a

section 42A or 43 of this Act; or

b

section 14 of the M2Criminal Justice (International Co-operation) Act 1990 (concealing or transferring proceeds of drug trafficking),

or, in the case of an act done otherwise than in Scotland, would constitute such an offence if done in Scotland.

8

For the purposes of subsection (7) above, having possession of any property shall be taken to be doing an act in relation to it.

9

For the purposes of this section, any information or other matter comes to a professional legal adviser in privileged circumstances if it is communicated, or given, to him—

a

by, or by a representative of, a client of his in connection with the giving by the adviser of legal advice to the client;

b

by, or by a representative of, a person seeking legal advice from the adviser; or

c

by any person—

i

in contemplation of, or in connection with, legal proceedings; and

ii

for the purpose of those proceedings.

10

No information or other matter shall be treated as coming to a professional legal adviser in privileged circumstances if it is communicated or given with a view to furthering any criminal purpose.

11

A person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable—

a

on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or to both, or

b

on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years or a fine, or to both.

43B Tipping-off.

1

A person is guilty of an offence if—

a

he knows or suspects that a constable or a person commissioned by the Commissioners of Customs and Excise is acting, or is proposing to act, in connection with an investigation which is being, or is about to be, conducted into drug money laundering within the meaning of subsections (7) and (8) of section 43A of this Act; and

b

he discloses to any other person information or any other matter which is likely to prejudice that investigation, or proposed investigation.

2

A person is guilty of an offence if—

a

he knows or suspects that a disclosure has been made to a constable, or a person so commissioned, under section 42A, 43 or 43A of this Act; and

b

he discloses to any other person information or any other matter which is likely to prejudice any investigation which might be conducted following the disclosure.

3

A person is guilty of an offence if—

a

he knows or suspects that a disclosure of a kind mentioned in section 42A(8), 43(4A) or 43A(5) of this Act has been made; and

b

he discloses to any person information or any other matter which is likely to prejudice any investigation which might be conducted following the disclosure.

4

Nothing in subsections (1) to (3) above makes it an offence for a professional legal adviser to disclose any information or other matter—

a

to, or to a representative of, a client of his in connection with the giving by the adviser of legal advice to the client; or

b

to any person—

i

in contemplation of, or in connection with, legal proceedings; and

ii

for the purpose of those proceedings.

5

Subsection (4) above does not apply in relation to any information or other matter which is disclosed with a view to furthering any criminal purpose.

6

In proceedings against a person for an offence under subsection (1), (2) or (3) above, it is a defence to prove that he did not know or suspect that the disclosure was likely to be prejudicial in the way mentioned in that subsection.

7

A person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable—

a

on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or to both, or

b

on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years or a fine, or to both.

8

No constable, person so commissioned or other person shall be guilty of an offence under this section in respect of anything done by him in the course of acting in connection with the enforcement, or intended enforcement, of any provision of this Act or of any other enactment relating to drug trafficking or the proceeds of such trafficking.

4A

In the case of a person who was in employment at the relevant time, subsections (3) and (4) above shall have effect in relation to disclosures, and intended disclosures, to the appropriate person in accordance with the procedure established by his employer for the making of such disclosures as they have effect in relation to disclosures, and intended disclosures, to a constable or a person commissioned as aforesaid.