Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06RIYADH8987
2006-12-04 12:50:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Riyadh
Cable title:
THE SAUDI ARABIAN FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE UNIT'S
how-toVZCZCXRO5321 OO RUEHDE RUEHDIR DE RUEHRH #8987/01 3381250 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 041250Z DEC 06 FM AMEMBASSY RIYADH TO RHMCSUU/FBI WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3607 RUEHJI/AMCONSUL JEDDAH 8026 INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 RIYADH 008987
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
TREASURY PLEASE PASS TO FINCEN'S AHMED ELBASHARI
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KTFN PTER EFIN ETTC SA
SUBJECT: THE SAUDI ARABIAN FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE UNIT'S
URGENT REQUEST FOR TRAINING
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 RIYADH 008987
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
TREASURY PLEASE PASS TO FINCEN'S AHMED ELBASHARI
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KTFN PTER EFIN ETTC SA
SUBJECT: THE SAUDI ARABIAN FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE UNIT'S
URGENT REQUEST FOR TRAINING
1. (U) This is an action request. Please see paragraphs 6
and 9.
2. (U) Summary. EconOff met with the Saudi Arabian
Financial Intelligence Unit (SA FIU) on November 5 and
December 4, 2006 to discuss the status of their Egmont
application and technical assistance. In attendance at the
meeting was the SA FIU overall supervisor, Colonel Fah'd
Al-Maglooth, Acting Director and Deputy Director of the SA
FIU, Khalid Luhaidan, and SA FIU consultant for training
needs, Dr. Hamza Al Salem. The SA FIU presented EconOff with
a letter detailing their technical assistance needs. Post
requests FinCEN and FBI assistance in upcoming training
needs. End Summary.
3. (U) The SA FIU has hired a consultant, Dr. Hamza Al
Salem, to focus on training SA FIU employees and obtaining
advanced technology support. In doing so, the SA FIU is in
need of training at the beginner level to the advanced level.
At the beginner level the focus is on requirements, goals
and duties of an analyst and basic analytical concepts and
tools. For the advanced level, the SA FIU is seeking a
job-share program where analysts go to FinCEN for a period of
time to learn advanced concepts, software programs, and to
see a case from start to finish.
4. (U) In order to accomplish this long-term training
overhaul the SA FIU would like to have a FinCEN analyst work
at the SA FIU for a period of three to six months to train
and develop procedures, methods and best practices. In doing
so, the SA FIU stressed that no sensitive information can be
divulged to the FinCEN analyst, however ongoing joint cases
with the U.S. can be used as a model. Also, the SA FIU is
open to all training programs and would be receptive to all
invitations from FinCEN and the FBI regarding training on FIU
operations, investigations, terrorist financing and
anti-money laundering.
5. (U) To accommodate this training need in the short term,
the SA FIU would like a one-day seminar to address basic
analytical concepts and how a Suspicious Transaction Report
(STR) is addressed from start to finish. This training will
likely take place during the week of December 16, 2006.
Also, the SA FIU would like procedural manuals that give
step-by-step instructions on how to run a successful FIU.
6. (U) In EconOff's December 4 meeting, Dr. Hamza Al Salem
indicated that he had heard from FinCEN that the SA FIU is no
longer a candidate for 2007 Egmont membership. Due to this
news, the SA FIU is even more focused in obtaining the
necessary training to become a 2008 Egmont candidate.
Currently, the SA FIU has one sponsor, the U.S., and is
looking for FinCEN to suggest another co-sponsor. Action
Requests: Post request FinCEN to provide information
regarding the SA FIU's Egmont status and to update Post on
discussions between the SA FIU and FinCEN regarding technical
assistance.
7. (U) Comment. EconOff will be working with the SA FIU to
develop a training plan for the next year that addresses
their current and future needs. End Comment.
8. (U) The SA FIU letter reads as follows:
--"Saudi Arabia Financial Investigative Unit (SAFIU)
appreciates the United States of America cooperation for
helping to take a positive role on Anti-Money Laundering.
That is clear in the responsible saying of Mr. William J.
Fox, the Director of FINCEN before the US house of
representatives committee on financial services subcommittee
on oversight and investigations "We are poised to offer
whatever assistance the Kingdom will accept in standing this
unit up" May, 2005.
--Our training needs are not limited only in particular
subjects or courses. Our training needs are comprehensive to
cover all aspects necessary to stand our unit up. That will
include references, and extensive training courses in house,
in the USA, and with cooperation of other international FIUs
and the GPML. In addition to that, we need trainers for each
department in our unit to set our departments up to perform
our responsibilities perfectly and match the best FIUs in the
world, so we can move from this stage to be a good model and
benchmark for other FIUs.
RIYADH 00008987 002 OF 003
Sincerely yours,
Saudi Arabia Financial Investigative Unit
(U) The SA FIU letter attachments read as follows:
Examples showing some of our assistance needs
References:
Including organizational, operational, technical, managerial,
and specialized references.
Extensive training on analysis subjects such as but not
limited to:
1. Training in information reporting and record keeping
requirements.
2. Training for data analysis of possible financial crime.
3. Training to perform tactical analysis which is the
process of collecting the data needed to build a case
(tactical data).
4. Training to perform operational analysis and how to
formulate difference hypotheses on the possible activities of
a suspected criminal.
5. Training to perform researches and strategic analysis to
develop the main characteristic of new issues or trends.
6. Training to basic financial investigation.
7. Training to analysis of the Hawala System.
8. Training for case management and creating timelines.
9. Any further training needs in modern financial
investigative techniques.
10. Other analysis miscellaneous subjects such as:
Accounting system documents; business corruption; exposing
concealed income; fraud and money laundering statutes; net
worth analysis and financial calculations; types of financial
frauds and schemes; the intelligence cycle; operational
planning; external information sources; response analysis;
analytical methods & techniques; report writing for analysts;
financial aspects of criminal investigations; case summary
and trial preparation; concealed income analysis; flows of
money through financial and non-financial institutions
(domestic and international); international criminal
organizations; investigative techniques; money laundering
(methods & approaches and trends); domestic and international
fund transfers; conspiracy; indicators of financial fraud;
interviewing privileges; and tracing funds through financial
institutions.
whatever needs for training SA FIU staff on related computer
issues such as but not limited to:
Technical Requirement:
-Help SA FIU design its information framework based on
international requirements and in compliance with Egmont
group and FATF recommendations.
-The use of FINCEN knowledge and expertise to help SA FIU
establish an effective policies and procedures
--Using software and intelligence tools related to money
laundering issues.
Training for the Visual Link System: For using anti-money
laundering analytical software, our requirements are:
-Administrative training classes provide those responsible
for administering the anti-money laundering analytical
software with the knowledge, tools, and techniques they need
to install, configure and maintain the system in the most
effective and efficient manner possible.
-Modeling training class that provides system administrators
with the concepts and techniques required to integrate and
model data for use with anti-money laundering analytical
software services.
-Troubleshoot guidance education program.
Office Productivity Training:
-Introduction to computers.
-Training SA FIU staff on Microsoft office.
RIYADH 00008987 003 OF 003
--Using email systems and internet browsing
Security Training: IT personnel training
-Application and systems development security.
-Managing and configuring firewalls, perimeter protection,
and VPNs.
-Design and implement an effective security policy based on
international standards.
-Intrusion detection and prevention systems in depth.
-Hacker techniques, exploits, and incident handling.
-Securing Windows networks.
-Risk assessment.
-Business continuity planning and disaster recovery planning.
-Auditing networks, perimeters and systems.
-System forensics, investigation and response.
-Security and audit framework
-Assessing and securing wireless network.
-Internet investigations training program.
-Investigative techniques for computer related search and
seizure.
Staff Training:
-Introduction to (information security) training course.
-A comprehensive security awareness program for the staff and
management.
System Development:
-Java programming primer course.
-Java programming for developers course.
-Advanced Java course.
-Managing Microsoft SQL server database.
-Programming database using Microsoft development tools.
9. (U) Action Requests. Post requests FinCEN and FBI
assistance in developing and presenting training to the SA
FIU. Most importantly for the short term, Post requests
FinCEN to provide basic analytical and financial crimes
investigation training materials to the LEGAT office at Post
to conduct a one-day seminar by December 15, 2006. Also,
Post requests any FinCEN training manuals or reference guides
to assist the SA FIU. Post appreciates the assistance of
FinCEN and the FBI.
OBERWETTER
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
TREASURY PLEASE PASS TO FINCEN'S AHMED ELBASHARI
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KTFN PTER EFIN ETTC SA
SUBJECT: THE SAUDI ARABIAN FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE UNIT'S
URGENT REQUEST FOR TRAINING
1. (U) This is an action request. Please see paragraphs 6
and 9.
2. (U) Summary. EconOff met with the Saudi Arabian
Financial Intelligence Unit (SA FIU) on November 5 and
December 4, 2006 to discuss the status of their Egmont
application and technical assistance. In attendance at the
meeting was the SA FIU overall supervisor, Colonel Fah'd
Al-Maglooth, Acting Director and Deputy Director of the SA
FIU, Khalid Luhaidan, and SA FIU consultant for training
needs, Dr. Hamza Al Salem. The SA FIU presented EconOff with
a letter detailing their technical assistance needs. Post
requests FinCEN and FBI assistance in upcoming training
needs. End Summary.
3. (U) The SA FIU has hired a consultant, Dr. Hamza Al
Salem, to focus on training SA FIU employees and obtaining
advanced technology support. In doing so, the SA FIU is in
need of training at the beginner level to the advanced level.
At the beginner level the focus is on requirements, goals
and duties of an analyst and basic analytical concepts and
tools. For the advanced level, the SA FIU is seeking a
job-share program where analysts go to FinCEN for a period of
time to learn advanced concepts, software programs, and to
see a case from start to finish.
4. (U) In order to accomplish this long-term training
overhaul the SA FIU would like to have a FinCEN analyst work
at the SA FIU for a period of three to six months to train
and develop procedures, methods and best practices. In doing
so, the SA FIU stressed that no sensitive information can be
divulged to the FinCEN analyst, however ongoing joint cases
with the U.S. can be used as a model. Also, the SA FIU is
open to all training programs and would be receptive to all
invitations from FinCEN and the FBI regarding training on FIU
operations, investigations, terrorist financing and
anti-money laundering.
5. (U) To accommodate this training need in the short term,
the SA FIU would like a one-day seminar to address basic
analytical concepts and how a Suspicious Transaction Report
(STR) is addressed from start to finish. This training will
likely take place during the week of December 16, 2006.
Also, the SA FIU would like procedural manuals that give
step-by-step instructions on how to run a successful FIU.
6. (U) In EconOff's December 4 meeting, Dr. Hamza Al Salem
indicated that he had heard from FinCEN that the SA FIU is no
longer a candidate for 2007 Egmont membership. Due to this
news, the SA FIU is even more focused in obtaining the
necessary training to become a 2008 Egmont candidate.
Currently, the SA FIU has one sponsor, the U.S., and is
looking for FinCEN to suggest another co-sponsor. Action
Requests: Post request FinCEN to provide information
regarding the SA FIU's Egmont status and to update Post on
discussions between the SA FIU and FinCEN regarding technical
assistance.
7. (U) Comment. EconOff will be working with the SA FIU to
develop a training plan for the next year that addresses
their current and future needs. End Comment.
8. (U) The SA FIU letter reads as follows:
--"Saudi Arabia Financial Investigative Unit (SAFIU)
appreciates the United States of America cooperation for
helping to take a positive role on Anti-Money Laundering.
That is clear in the responsible saying of Mr. William J.
Fox, the Director of FINCEN before the US house of
representatives committee on financial services subcommittee
on oversight and investigations "We are poised to offer
whatever assistance the Kingdom will accept in standing this
unit up" May, 2005.
--Our training needs are not limited only in particular
subjects or courses. Our training needs are comprehensive to
cover all aspects necessary to stand our unit up. That will
include references, and extensive training courses in house,
in the USA, and with cooperation of other international FIUs
and the GPML. In addition to that, we need trainers for each
department in our unit to set our departments up to perform
our responsibilities perfectly and match the best FIUs in the
world, so we can move from this stage to be a good model and
benchmark for other FIUs.
RIYADH 00008987 002 OF 003
Sincerely yours,
Saudi Arabia Financial Investigative Unit
(U) The SA FIU letter attachments read as follows:
Examples showing some of our assistance needs
References:
Including organizational, operational, technical, managerial,
and specialized references.
Extensive training on analysis subjects such as but not
limited to:
1. Training in information reporting and record keeping
requirements.
2. Training for data analysis of possible financial crime.
3. Training to perform tactical analysis which is the
process of collecting the data needed to build a case
(tactical data).
4. Training to perform operational analysis and how to
formulate difference hypotheses on the possible activities of
a suspected criminal.
5. Training to perform researches and strategic analysis to
develop the main characteristic of new issues or trends.
6. Training to basic financial investigation.
7. Training to analysis of the Hawala System.
8. Training for case management and creating timelines.
9. Any further training needs in modern financial
investigative techniques.
10. Other analysis miscellaneous subjects such as:
Accounting system documents; business corruption; exposing
concealed income; fraud and money laundering statutes; net
worth analysis and financial calculations; types of financial
frauds and schemes; the intelligence cycle; operational
planning; external information sources; response analysis;
analytical methods & techniques; report writing for analysts;
financial aspects of criminal investigations; case summary
and trial preparation; concealed income analysis; flows of
money through financial and non-financial institutions
(domestic and international); international criminal
organizations; investigative techniques; money laundering
(methods & approaches and trends); domestic and international
fund transfers; conspiracy; indicators of financial fraud;
interviewing privileges; and tracing funds through financial
institutions.
whatever needs for training SA FIU staff on related computer
issues such as but not limited to:
Technical Requirement:
-Help SA FIU design its information framework based on
international requirements and in compliance with Egmont
group and FATF recommendations.
-The use of FINCEN knowledge and expertise to help SA FIU
establish an effective policies and procedures
--Using software and intelligence tools related to money
laundering issues.
Training for the Visual Link System: For using anti-money
laundering analytical software, our requirements are:
-Administrative training classes provide those responsible
for administering the anti-money laundering analytical
software with the knowledge, tools, and techniques they need
to install, configure and maintain the system in the most
effective and efficient manner possible.
-Modeling training class that provides system administrators
with the concepts and techniques required to integrate and
model data for use with anti-money laundering analytical
software services.
-Troubleshoot guidance education program.
Office Productivity Training:
-Introduction to computers.
-Training SA FIU staff on Microsoft office.
RIYADH 00008987 003 OF 003
--Using email systems and internet browsing
Security Training: IT personnel training
-Application and systems development security.
-Managing and configuring firewalls, perimeter protection,
and VPNs.
-Design and implement an effective security policy based on
international standards.
-Intrusion detection and prevention systems in depth.
-Hacker techniques, exploits, and incident handling.
-Securing Windows networks.
-Risk assessment.
-Business continuity planning and disaster recovery planning.
-Auditing networks, perimeters and systems.
-System forensics, investigation and response.
-Security and audit framework
-Assessing and securing wireless network.
-Internet investigations training program.
-Investigative techniques for computer related search and
seizure.
Staff Training:
-Introduction to (information security) training course.
-A comprehensive security awareness program for the staff and
management.
System Development:
-Java programming primer course.
-Java programming for developers course.
-Advanced Java course.
-Managing Microsoft SQL server database.
-Programming database using Microsoft development tools.
9. (U) Action Requests. Post requests FinCEN and FBI
assistance in developing and presenting training to the SA
FIU. Most importantly for the short term, Post requests
FinCEN to provide basic analytical and financial crimes
investigation training materials to the LEGAT office at Post
to conduct a one-day seminar by December 15, 2006. Also,
Post requests any FinCEN training manuals or reference guides
to assist the SA FIU. Post appreciates the assistance of
FinCEN and the FBI.
OBERWETTER