Given the great interest of the public and individuals for the news that the Administration for the Prevention of Money Laundering of the Ministry of Finance has drafted a list of journalists and citizens' associations and requested insight into all bank transactions since 1 January 2019, the Protector of Citizens will, within his legal competencies, inspect the conducted procedure with the aim of ascertaining whether the control was carried out pursuant to applicable regulations and laws.
The procedure initiated by the Administration for the Prevention of Money Laundering for obtaining insight into the bank transactions of these entities is established by the Law on Personal Data Protection with the grounds also specified by the Law on the Prevention of Money Laundering and the Financing of Terrorism, and legal powers of Administration for the Prevention of Money Laundering, stipulated by Article 73 of the Law stating that the Administration may request from the taxpayer data from the records of parties and transactions if it assesses that in connection with certain transactions or persons there are grounds to suspect that it is money laundering or terrorist financing.
Pursuant to this Law, the Administration may request from the taxpayer data and information relating to persons who have participated or cooperated in transactions or operations of individuals for which there are grounds to suspect that they are about money laundering or financing the terrorism.
The Protector of Citizens is not acquainted with the reason why the Administration for the Prevention of Money Laundering selected the aforementioned media workers, non-governmental organizations and citizens' associations, but it will monitor the entire procedure within its competences.
The repercussions that controlled entities may have depend on what the Administration for the Prevention of Money Laundering determine from the control i.e. performance of its competence, and from the documentation and information obtained from taxpayers.