KKTC'de lisanslı First Merchant Offshore Bank kitaplara destan olmuş, Finans tarihimizin ilk "kara para aklama" olayıdır. Yabancı otoriteler tarafından devamlı olarak kara para aklama zincirine örnek bir olay olarak gösterilmektedir.
Bir Hong Kong yatırımcı grubu tarafından 2004 yılında açılan bir davada, ABN Amro’nun New York şubesinin, Kuzey Kıbrıs Türk Cumhuriyeti’nde bulunan First Mechant Bank Offshore Ltd'in, bankanın grubu aldatmasına izin verdiğini iddia edilmiştir.
Davaya göre, ABN Amro 1998 yılında New York şubesinde First Merchant Bank için açmış olduğu altı muhabir hesap hakkında gönderilen birkaç uyarıyı dikkate almamıştır. Sonrasında, şube, biri Kıbrıs Merkez Bankası tarafından gönderilen, bankayı First Merchant bankasını da içeren iki kuruluş ile iş yapmanın finansal ve itibari riskleri hakkında uyaran iki uyarı mektup almıştır. Daha sonra daha fazla uyarı mektubu gelmiş fakat banka 2000 baharına kadar First Merchant hesaplarını kapatmamıştır.
Davada ABN Amro’nun First Merchant ve hesapları hakkında uygun şekilde durum tespiti yapmadığı ve şunları içeren kırmızı bayrakları göz ardı ettiği iddia edilmiştir:
■ First Merchant yalnızca Kuzey Kıbrıs’tan bir offshore lisansa sahipti;
■ Banka Kuzey Kıbrıs’ta küçük bir ofis dışında herhangi bir fiziksel ofise sahip değildi;
■ New York’ta bankacılık veya menkul kıymet lisanslarına sahip değildi;
■ İddiaya göre başkanı ve idari müdürü Hakkı Yaman Namlı 50 milyon ABD Dolarının aklanması ile bağlantılı olarak İtalyan makamları tarafından aranmaktadır.
Banka aynı zamanda Federal Reserve ile, bankanın New York muhabir hesabındaki ve takas hizmeti bölümlerinde suç gelirlerinin aklanmasını önleme kontrollerini sıkılaştırılmasını öngören bir yazılı sözleşme imzalamıştır.
Kara Para Aklama Davası ve First Merchant Offshore Bank
Çetenin Yavruları ve First Merchant Offshore Bank
Hakkı Yaman Namlı ve First Merchant Offshore Bank
KKTC Merkezli First Merchant Offshore Bank
Skandal Banka Kara Listede: First Merchant Offshore Bank
FIRST MERCHANT OFFSHORE BANK: OFFSHORE GANG...!
In August 2004, US Treasury blacklisted First Merchant Bank because:
Pursuant to Section 311 of the USA PATRIOT Act, FinCEN (Treasury) found First Merchant Bank to be of primary money laundering concern based on a number of factors, including:
(1) it is licensed as an offshore bank in the TRNC, a jurisdiction with inadequate anti-money laundering controls, particularly those applicable to its offshore sector;
(2) it is involved in the marketing and sale of fraudulent financial products and services;
(3) it has been used as a conduit for the laundering of fraudulently obtained funds; and
(4) the individuals who own, control, and operate to launder criminal proceeds.
All of which is apparently true. The problem is that this was all publicly known at least as far back as 1997, when a member of the Susurluk Commission said that First Merchant Bank was being used to launder money and finance terrorism for the "Susurluk Gang".
In fact, Treasury essentially admitted that they knew all this when they blacklisted First Merchant Bank in 2004:
Domestic and foreign newspapers and magazines report that First Merchant Bank has been used for illicit transactions since its founding in 1993. Apparently, First Merchant Bank was established, at least in part, to facilitate the movement of funds between organized crime rings and corrupt politicians. The earliest indicators of illicit activity on the part of First Merchant Bank or its principals involved the original shareholders or partners of the Bank.
One of the original partners of First Merchant Bank is reported to be a former KGB employee identified as Vladimir Kobarel, who allegedly involved First Merchant Bank in transferring underground money to Russian banks. Another original partner, Tarik Umit, was a former Turkish National Intelligence Organization (MIT) member who was believed killed in connection with a well-known Turkish investigation into links between the Turkish mafia, the MIT, and right wing politicians (the Susurluk scandal).
First Merchant Bank, Tarik Umit, and Dr. Hakki Yaman Namli (owner of the First Merchant Offshore Bank Ltd.) are alleged to have been involved with the laundering of $450 million in narcotics proceeds for the Susurluk Gang.
The Susurluk Scandal began with an automobile accident in Susurluk, Turkey, on November 3, 1996. Four people occupied the automobile: The deputy police chief of Istanbul; an alleged "extreme nationalist hit man'' previously convicted of heroin trafficking and wanted for terrorism; the hit man's girlfriend...; and a member of the Turkish Parliament, whose private militia had helped the army fight Kurdish militants.... The trunk of the car was full of weapons.
The incident received national notoriety and served as the basis for Parliamentary investigations into links among politicians, the arms trade, and organized crime.
Despite this, it took the US Government until 2004 – 3 years after 9/11 – to shut down First Merchant Bank.
1. Took them three years to shut down First Merchant Bank despite the fact that, according to the Wall Street Journal, Al Qaeda was known to be using the TRNC to launder money.
2. Took them three years to shut down First Merchant Bank despite the fact that the FBI knew that the bank was being used for these purposes by early 2002 at the latest.
3. Took them three years to shut down First Merchant Bank despite the fact “the criminal Turkish networks” had “direct and indirect role and ties” to 9/11.
4. Took them three years to shut down First Merchant Bank, despite the fact that, “After 9/11, the US Government engaged in mock investigations and shut down many small Islamic charities and organizations, giving the appearance of action in the so-called ‘War on Terror.’”
