Economic crime report 2004 - Ekobrottsmyndigheten

• Businesses, such as:
– Tax planning through Controlled Foreign Companies (CFCs)
– Swedish shareholders exercise a controlling influence in a business
established in a tax haven
– Consulting assignments through companies abroad
– Foreign endowment insurance policies with employers or from
private limited companies
The above methods may become more extensive due to major monitoring
difficulties. Today’s information technology makes it easier to take
advantage of tax havens.
For instance, an estimated 400 British companies have links to Sweden.
Since the late 1950s, businesses and other players that sell tax dodging
schemes have offered various constellations of companies in tax havens.
As the tax authorities have become more aware of transactions involving
such companies, an increasingly common approach is to form them in
countries that are not regarded as tax havens as facades for such schemes.
There are now certain addresses in central London at which several thousand
companies are registered. They do not conduct any activities from
such addresses and are in fact discouraged from doing so.
2.5.6 Money Laundering
The money laundering issue has commanded a great deal of attention in
recent years, both nationally and internationally. The agencies and organizations
that have traditionally combated money laundering may now be
taking measures against the financing of terrorism as well.
The globalization process, the availability of offshore services, the complexity
of and automation of the financial system – as well as its products
and services – and the entry of new players have all made it more difficult
to fight money laundering.
Based on changes to the Money Laundering Directive, Sweden is reviewing
the relevant legislation.
Only a few people have been convicted of money receiving since it was
made a separate crime. Although most convictions have been for predicate
offences, some recent judgments have involved typical money receiving.
Following is one particular case.
On 30 August, a Stockholm bank fell victim to gross fraud when an
unknown person used a fake ID to make transfers totalling SEK 10 mil-
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