CRIMINAL ASPECT OF MONEY LAUNDERING AND PREVENTIVE ROLE OF BANKS

Abstract

The process of „money laundering” in legal terminology and its meaning was first recognized in the first half of the twentieth century in the United States. In basic terms, from then until today, money laundering did not have a lot of changes, except it is for some of years a global problem. Money laundering still continues to undertake actions with which to achieve the legalization of capital, which is gained in addressing certain criminal activities in which the apply various financial transactions to disguise the true origin of the money, which results in the creation of legal resources for future investment. Considering that money laundering is a significant global problem, it could be understood the need for creating a legal framework to incriminate money laundering at the international level, to have easier implementation in national legislation. In addition to all mentioned above so far, special attention will be devoted to stages and forms of manifestation of money laundering, because it is not only a single action. In theoretical terms, money laundering can be grouped into three phases: the phase of placement, the phase of laying and the phase of integration. This paper will consider this issue by pointing to their most important characteristics in order to understand and observe the process of money laundering. In the fight against money laundering, banks have a special role, therefore we will consider this matter more closely, especially from the perspective of preventive action to protect the bank from money laundering.