Criminal Code Act 1995 (Australia, unsourced)/Chapter 10/10.2

Part 10.2—Money laundering
Division 400—Money laundering

400.1 Definitions


 * (1) In this Division:

ADI (authorised deposit‑taking institution) means:


 * (a) a body corporate that is an ADI for the purposes of the Banking Act 1959; or


 * (b) the Reserve Bank of Australia; or


 * (c) a person who carries on State banking within the meaning of paragraph 51(xiii) of the Constitution.

deals with money or other property has the meaning given by section 400.2.

instrument of crime: money or other property is an instrument of crime if it is used in the commission of, or used to facilitate the commission of, an offence that may be dealt with as an indictable offence (even if it may, in some circumstances, be dealt with as a summary offence).

proceeds of crime means any money or other property that is derived or realised, directly or indirectly, by any person from the commission of an offence that may be dealt with as an indictable offence (even if it may, in some circumstances, be dealt with as a summary offence).

property means real or personal property of every description, whether situated in Australia or elsewhere and whether tangible or intangible, and includes an interest in any such real or personal property.


 * (2) To avoid doubt, a reference in this Division to money or other property includes a reference to financial instruments, cards and other objects that represent money or can be exchanged for money, whether or not they have intrinsic value.

400.2 Meaning of dealing with money or other property


 * (1) For the purposes of this Division, a person deals with money or other property if:


 * (a) the person does any of the following:


 * (i) receives, possesses, conceals or disposes of money or other property;


 * (ii) imports money or other property into, or exports money or other property from, Australia;


 * (iii) engages in a banking transaction relating to money or other property; and


 * (b) the money or other property is proceeds of crime, or could become an instrument of crime, in relation to an offence that is a Commonwealth indictable offence or a foreign indictable offence.


 * (2) For the purposes of this Division, a person deals with money or other property if:


 * (a) the person does any of the following:


 * (i) receives, possesses, conceals or disposes of money or other property;


 * (ii) imports money or other property into, or exports money or other property from, Australia;


 * (iii) engages in a banking transaction relating to money or other property; and


 * (b) the person does any of the matters referred to in paragraph (a):


 * (i) in the course of or for the purposes of importation of goods into, or exportation of goods from, Australia; or


 * (ii) by means of a communication using a postal, telegraphic or telephonic service within the meaning of paragraph 51(v) of the Constitution; or


 * (iii) in the course of banking (other than State banking that does not extend beyond the limits of the State concerned).


 * (3) In this section:

banking transaction includes:


 * (a) any transaction made at an ADI; and


 * (b) any transaction involving a money order.

Commonwealth indictable offence means an offence against a law of the Commonwealth, or a law of a Territory (other than the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory), that may be dealt with as an indictable offence (even if it may, in some circumstances, be dealt with as a summary offence).

export money or other property, from Australia, includes transfer money or other property from Australia by an electronic communication.

foreign indictable offence means an offence against a law of a foreign country constituted by conduct that, if it had occurred in Australia, would have constituted an offence against:


 * (a) a law of the Commonwealth; or


 * (b) a law of a State or Territory connected with the offence;

that may be dealt with as an indictable offence (even if it may, in some circumstances, be dealt with as a summary offence).

Note:         See subsection (4) for when a law of a State or Territory is connected with the offence.

import money or other property, into Australia, includes transfer money or other property to Australia by an electronic communication.


 * (4) For the purposes of the definition of foreign indictable offence in subsection (3), a State or Territory is connected with the offence if:


 * (a) a dealing in money or property takes place in the State or Territory; and


 * (b) the money or property would be proceeds of crime, or could become an instrument of crime, in relation to the offence if the offence were a foreign indictable offence.

400.3 Dealing in proceeds of crime etc.—money or property worth $1,000,000 or more


 * (1) A person is guilty of an offence if:


 * (a) the person deals with money or other property; and


 * (b) either:


 * (i) the money or property is, and the person believes it to be, proceeds of crime; or


 * (ii) the person intends that the money or property will become an instrument of crime; and


 * (c) at the time of the dealing, the value of the money and other property is $1,000,000 or more.

Penalty: Imprisonment for 25 years, or 1500 penalty units, or both.


 * (2) A person is guilty of an offence if:


 * (a) the person deals with money or other property; and


 * (b) either:


 * (i) the money or property is proceeds of crime; or


 * (ii) there is a risk that the money or property will become an instrument of crime; and


 * (c) the person is reckless as to the fact that the money or property is proceeds of crime or the fact that there is a risk that it will become an instrument of crime (as the case requires); and


 * (d) at the time of the dealing, the value of the money and other property is $1,000,000 or more.

Penalty: Imprisonment for 12 years, or 720 penalty units, or both.


 * (3) A person is guilty of an offence if:


 * (a) the person deals with money or other property; and


 * (b) either:


 * (i) the money or property is proceeds of crime; or


 * (ii) there is a risk that the money or property will become an instrument of crime; and


 * (c) the person is negligent as to the fact that the money or property is proceeds of crime or the fact that there is a risk that it will become an instrument of crime (as the case requires); and


 * (d) at the time of the dealing, the value of the money and other property is $1,000,000 or more.

Penalty: Imprisonment for 5 years, or 300 penalty units, or both.


 * (4) Absolute liability applies to paragraphs (1)(c), (2)(d) and (3)(d).

Note:         Section 400.10 provides for a defence of mistake of fact in relation to these paragraphs.

400.4 Dealing in proceeds of crime etc.—money or property worth $100,000 or more


 * (1) A person is guilty of an offence if:


 * (a) the person deals with money or other property; and


 * (b) either:


 * (i) the money or property is, and the person believes it to be, proceeds of crime; or


 * (ii) the person intends that the money or property will become an instrument of crime; and


 * (c) at the time of the dealing, the value of the money and other property is $100,000 or more.

Penalty: Imprisonment for 20 years, or 1200 penalty units, or both.


 * (2) A person is guilty of an offence if:


 * (a) the person deals with money or other property; and


 * (b) either:


 * (i) the money or property is proceeds of crime; or


 * (ii) there is a risk that the money or property will become an instrument of crime; and


 * (c) the person is reckless as to the fact that the money or property is proceeds of crime or the fact that there is a risk that it will become an instrument of crime (as the case requires); and


 * (d) at the time of the dealing, the value of the money and other property is $100,000 or more.

Penalty: Imprisonment for 10 years, or 600 penalty units, or both.


 * (3) A person is guilty of an offence if:


 * (a) the person deals with money or other property; and


 * (b) either:


 * (i) the money or property is proceeds of crime; or


 * (ii) there is a risk that the money or property will become an instrument of crime; and


 * (c) the person is negligent as to the fact that the money or property is proceeds of crime or the fact that there is a risk that it will become an instrument of crime (as the case requires); and


 * (d) at the time of the dealing, the value of the money and other property is $100,000 or more.

Penalty: Imprisonment for 4 years, or 240 penalty units, or both.


 * (4) Absolute liability applies to paragraphs (1)(c), (2)(d) and (3)(d).

Note:         Section 400.10 provides for a defence of mistake of fact in relation to these paragraphs.

400.5 Dealing in proceeds of crime etc.—money or property worth $50,000 or more


 * (1) A person is guilty of an offence if:


 * (a) the person deals with money or other property; and


 * (b) either:


 * (i) the money or property is, and the person believes it to be, proceeds of crime; or


 * (ii) the person intends that the money or property will become an instrument of crime; and


 * (c) at the time of the dealing, the value of the money and other property is $50,000 or more.

Penalty: Imprisonment for 15 years, or 900 penalty units, or both.


 * (2) A person is guilty of an offence if:


 * (a) the person deals with money or other property; and


 * (b) either:


 * (i) the money or property is proceeds of crime; or


 * (ii) there is a risk that the money or property will become an instrument of crime; and


 * (c) the person is reckless as to the fact that the money or property is proceeds of crime or the fact that there is a risk that it will become an instrument of crime (as the case requires); and


 * (d) at the time of the dealing, the value of the money and other property is $50,000 or more.

Penalty: Imprisonment for 7 years, or 420 penalty units, or both.


 * (3) A person is guilty of an offence if:


 * (a) the person deals with money or other property; and


 * (b) either:


 * (i) the money or property is proceeds of crime; or


 * (ii) there is a risk that the money or property will become an instrument of crime; and


 * (c) the person is negligent as to the fact that the money or property is proceeds of crime or the fact that there is a risk that it will become an instrument of crime (as the case requires); and


 * (d) at the time of the dealing, the value of the money and other property is $50,000 or more.

Penalty: Imprisonment for 3 years, or 180 penalty units, or both.


 * (4) Absolute liability applies to paragraphs (1)(c), (2)(d) and (3)(d).

Note:         Section 400.10 provides for a defence of mistake of fact in relation to these paragraphs.

400.6 Dealing in proceeds of crime etc.—money or property worth $10,000 or more


 * (1) A person is guilty of an offence if:


 * (a) the person deals with money or other property; and


 * (b) either:


 * (i) the money or property is, and the person believes it to be, proceeds of crime; or


 * (ii) the person intends that the money or property will become an instrument of crime; and


 * (c) at the time of the dealing, the value of the money and other property is $10,000 or more.

Penalty: Imprisonment for 10 years, or 600 penalty units, or both.


 * (2) A person is guilty of an offence if:


 * (a) the person deals with money or other property; and


 * (b) either:


 * (i) the money or property is proceeds of crime; or


 * (ii) there is a risk that the money or property will become an instrument of crime; and


 * (c) the person is reckless as to the fact that the money or property is proceeds of crime or the fact that there is a risk that it will become an instrument of crime (as the case requires); and


 * (d) at the time of the dealing, the value of the money and other property is $10,000 or more.

Penalty: Imprisonment for 5 years, or 300 penalty units, or both.


 * (3) A person is guilty of an offence if:


 * (a) the person deals with money or other property; and


 * (b) either:


 * (i) the money or property is proceeds of crime; or


 * (ii) there is a risk that the money or property will become an instrument of crime; and


 * (c) the person is negligent as to the fact that the money or property is proceeds of crime or the fact that there is a risk that it will become an instrument of crime (as the case requires); and


 * (d) at the time of the dealing, the value of the money and other property is $10,000 or more.

Penalty: Imprisonment for 2 years, or 120 penalty units, or both.


 * (4) Absolute liability applies to paragraphs (1)(c), (2)(d) and (3)(d).

Note:         Section 400.10 provides for a defence of mistake of fact in relation to these paragraphs.

400.7 Dealing in proceeds of crime etc.—money or property worth $1,000 or more


 * (1) A person is guilty of an offence if:


 * (a) the person deals with money or other property; and


 * (b) either:


 * (i) the money or property is, and the person believes it to be, proceeds of crime; or


 * (ii) the person intends that the money or property will become an instrument of crime; and


 * (c) at the time of the dealing, the value of the money and other property is $1,000 or more.

Penalty: Imprisonment for 5 years, or 300 penalty units, or both.


 * (2) A person is guilty of an offence if:


 * (a) the person deals with money or other property; and


 * (b) either:


 * (i) the money or property is proceeds of crime; or


 * (ii) there is a risk that the money or property will become an instrument of crime; and


 * (c) the person is reckless as to the fact that the money or property is proceeds of crime or the fact that there is a risk that it will become an instrument of crime (as the case requires); and


 * (d) at the time of the dealing, the value of the money and other property is $1,000 or more.

Penalty: Imprisonment for 2 years, or 120 penalty units, or both.


 * (3) A person is guilty of an offence if:


 * (a) the person deals with money or other property; and


 * (b) either:


 * (i) the money or property is proceeds of crime; or


 * (ii) there is a risk that the money or property will become an instrument of crime; and


 * (c) the person is negligent as to the fact that the money or property is proceeds of crime or the fact that there is a risk that it will become an instrument of crime (as the case requires); and


 * (d) at the time of the dealing, the value of the money and other property is $1,000 or more.

Penalty: Imprisonment for 12 months, or 60 penalty units, or both.


 * (4) Absolute liability applies to paragraphs (1)(c), (2)(d) and (3)(d).

Note:         Section 400.10 provides for a defence of mistake of fact in relation to these paragraphs.

400.8 Dealing in proceeds of crime etc.—money or property of any value


 * (1) A person is guilty of an offence if:


 * (a) the person deals with money or other property; and


 * (b) either:


 * (i) the money or property is, and the person believes it to be, proceeds of crime; or


 * (ii) the person intends that the money or property will become an instrument of crime.

Penalty: Imprisonment for 12 months, or 60 penalty units, or both.


 * (2) A person is guilty of an offence if:


 * (a) the person deals with money or other property; and


 * (b) either:


 * (i) the money or property is proceeds of crime; or


 * (ii) there is a risk that the money or property will become an instrument of crime; and


 * (c) the person is reckless as to the fact that the money or property is proceeds of crime or the fact that there is a risk that it will become an instrument of crime (as the case requires).

Penalty: Imprisonment for 6 months, or 30 penalty units, or both.


 * (3) A person is guilty of an offence if:


 * (a) the person deals with money or other property; and


 * (b) either:


 * (i) the money or property is proceeds of crime; or


 * (ii) there is a risk that the money or property will become an instrument of crime; and


 * (c) the person is negligent as to the fact that the money or property is proceeds of crime or the fact that there is a risk that it will become an instrument of crime (as the case requires).

Penalty: 10 penalty units.

400.9 Possession etc. of property reasonably suspected of being proceeds of crime etc.


 * (1) A person is guilty of an offence if:


 * (a) the person:


 * (i) receives, possesses, conceals or disposes of money or other property; or


 * (ii) imports money or other property into, or exports money or other property from, Australia; and


 * (b) it is reasonable to suspect either or both of the following:


 * (i) the money or property is proceeds of crime in relation to a Commonwealth indictable offence or a foreign indictable offence;


 * (ii) the money or property is proceeds of crime, and the person’s conduct referred to in paragraph (a) takes place in circumstances referred to in subsection (3).

Penalty: Imprisonment for 2 years, or 50 penalty units, or both.


 * (2) Without limiting paragraph (1)(b), that paragraph is taken to be satisfied if:


 * (a) the conduct referred to in paragraph (1)(a) involves a number of transactions that are structured or arranged to avoid the reporting requirements of the Financial Transaction Reports Act 1988 that would otherwise apply to the transactions; or


 * (b) the conduct involves using one or more accounts held with ADIs in false names; or


 * (c) the value of the money and property involved in the conduct is, in the opinion of the trier of fact, grossly out of proportion to the defendant’s income and expenditure; or


 * (d) the conduct involves a significant cash transaction within the meaning of the Financial Transaction Reports Act 1988, and the defendant:


 * (i) has contravened his or her obligations under that Act relating to reporting the transaction; or


 * (ii) has given false or misleading information in purported compliance with those obligations; or


 * (e) the defendant:


 * (i) has stated that the conduct was engaged in on behalf of or at the request of another person; and


 * (ii) has not provided information enabling the other person to be identified and located.


 * (3) Subparagraph (1)(b)(ii) applies if the conduct in question takes place:


 * (a) in the course of or for the purposes of importation of goods into, or exportation of goods from, Australia; or


 * (b) by means of a communication using a postal, telegraphic or telephonic service within the meaning of paragraph 51(xx) of the Constitution; or


 * (c) in the course of banking (other than State banking that does not extend beyond the limits of the State concerned).


 * (4) Absolute liability applies to paragraph (1)(b).


 * (5) This section does not apply if the defendant proves that he or she had no reasonable grounds for suspecting that the money or property was derived or realised, directly or indirectly, from some form of unlawful activity.

Note:         A defendant bears a legal burden in relation to the matter in subsection (5) (see section 13.4).

400.10 Mistake of fact as to the value of money or property


 * (1) A person is not criminally responsible for an offence against section 400.3, 400.4, 400.5, 400.6 or 400.7 in relation to money or property if:


 * (a) at or before the time of dealing with the money or property, the person considered what was the value of the money or property, and was under a mistaken but reasonable belief about that value; and


 * (b) had the value been what the person believed it to be, the person’s conduct would have constituted another offence against this Division for which the maximum penalty, in penalty units, is less than the maximum penalty, in penalty units, for the offence charged.

Example:   Assume that a person deals with money or property that is the proceeds of crime. While the person believes it to be proceeds of crime, he or she is under a mistaken but reasonable belief that it is worth $90,000 when it is in fact worth $120,000.

That belief is a defence to an offence against subsection 400.4(1) (which deals with money or property of a value of $100,000 or more). However, the person would be guilty of an offence against subsection 400.5(1) (which deals with money or property of a value of $10,000 or more). Section 400.14 allows for an alternative verdict of guilty of an offence against subsection 400.5(1).

Note:         A defendant bears an evidential burden in relation to the matter in subsection (1) (see subsection 13.3(3)).


 * (2) A person may be regarded as having considered what the value of the money or property was if:


 * (a) he or she had considered, on a previous occasion, what the value of the money or property was in the circumstances surrounding that occasion; and


 * (b) he or she honestly and reasonably believed that the circumstances surrounding the present occasion were the same, or substantially the same, as those surrounding the previous occasion.

400.11 Proof of certain matters relating to kinds of offences not required

In a prosecution for an offence against a provision of this Division, it is not necessary to prove the existence of any fault element in relation to any of the following:


 * (a) whether an offence may be dealt with as an indictable offence;


 * (b) whether an offence is an indictable offence;


 * (c) whether an offence is a Commonwealth indictable offence;


 * (d) whether an offence is a foreign indictable offence.

400.12 Combining several contraventions in a single charge


 * (1) A single charge of an offence against a provision of this Division may be about 2 or more instances of the defendant engaging in conduct (at the same time or different times) that constitutes an offence against a provision of this Division.


 * (2) If:


 * (a) a single charge is about 2 or more such instances; and


 * (b) the value of the money and other property dealt with is an element of the offence in question;

that value is taken to be the sum of the values of the money and other property dealt with in respect of each of those instances.

400.13 Proof of other offences is not required


 * (1) To avoid doubt, it is not necessary, in order to prove for the purposes of this Division that money or property is proceeds of crime, to establish:


 * (a) a particular offence was committed in relation to the money or property; or


 * (b) a particular person committed an offence in relation to the money or property.


 * (2) To avoid doubt, it is not necessary, in order to prove for the purposes of this Division an intention or risk that money or property will be an instrument of crime, to establish that:


 * (a) an intention or risk that a particular offence will be committed in relation to the money or property; or


 * (b) an intention or risk that a particular person will commit an offence in relation to the money or property.

400.14 Alternative verdicts

If, on a trial for an offence against a provision of this Division (the offence charged), the trier of fact:


 * (a) is not satisfied that the defendant is guilty of the offence charged; but


 * (b) is otherwise satisfied that the defendant is guilty of another offence against this Division for which the maximum penalty, in penalty units, is less than the maximum penalty, in penalty units, for the offence charged;

the trier of fact may find the defendant not guilty of the offence charged but guilty of the other offence, so long as the person has been accorded procedural fairness in relation to that finding of guilt.

400.15 Geographical jurisdiction


 * Section 15.2 (extended geographical jurisdiction—category B) applies to each offence against this Division.

400.16 Saving of other laws


 * This Division is not intended to exclude or limit the operation of any other law of the Commonwealth or any law of a State or Territory.