NatWest prosecution – has FCA bitten off more than it can chew?

A criminal action against the banking giant foralleged failures in its anti-money laundering procedures is a first in certainrespects. Yet it could prove challenging for the regulator to secure aconviction, comments Thomas Cattee.

Thomas Cattee is a white-collar crime lawyer at Gherson Solicitors (www.gherson.com).He has previously worked for the Serious Fraud Office.

The Financial Conduct Authority announced inMarch that it had started criminal proceedings against NatWest Bank for allegedoffences relating to the adequacy of procedures in place to prevent moneylaundering.