Singapore

MAS announces Investigation into Citadelle and Senjo Following Review of Developments Relating to Wirecard

The Commercial Affairs Department (CAD) of the Singapore Police Force and the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) have announced the launch of a joint investigation into Citadelle Corporate Services, Senjo Group and its subsidiaries.

The investigation has been opened for suspected falsification of accounts under the Penal Code as well as carrying on a trust business without a licence under the Trust Companies Act, according to an MAS press release.

The investigation follows the announcement on 29 June 2020 that MAS and the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority are collaborating with CAD to scrutinise recent developments relating to Wirecard AG. The review surfaced reasons to suspect that offences may have been committed. As part of the investigation, CAD and MAS have obtained documents and records from Citadelle and Senjo, and have interviewed persons involved in the companies.

MAS is aware of media reports alleging that Citadelle has handled monies for Wirecard in a trustee capacity. The provision of trust services as a business in Singapore is an activity regulated by MAS under the Trust Companies Act.

Citadelle is not licensed to provide trust business services in Singapore, and is not supervised by MAS. MAS has also said it has listed Citadelle on the Investor Alert List on its website.