All provisions · Beneficial Ownership Act (Cap. 251B) · Part I: Preliminary
4 Autoridades Competentes
(1) A los efectos de la presente Ley, la "Autoridad Competente" respecto de las personas jurídicas y los acuerdos jurídicos—
(a) especificados en la Parte A del Anexo 1, será la Financial Intelligence Unit;
(b) especificados en la Parte B del Anexo 1, será la Financial Services Authority.
(2) Sin limitar el carácter general del subapartado (1), con el único fin de supervisar y evaluar el cumplimiento de la presente Ley, la Autoridad Competente podrá, durante el horario normal de oficina y previo aviso razonable a la persona jurídica o acuerdo jurídico, según sea el caso—
(a) acceder al domicilio principal de actividad de su agente residente;
(b) inspeccionar los documentos que la presente Ley exige que sean conservados por la persona jurídica o el acuerdo jurídico; (Amended by Act 38 of 2022)
(c) examinar y hacer copias o extractos de los documentos pertenecientes al agente residente o en su posesión, que, a juicio de la Autoridad Competente, se relacionen con documentos o información que deban ser conservados por una persona jurídica, acuerdo jurídico o agente residente conforme a la presente Ley; (Inserted by Act 38 of 2022)
(d) solicitar información y explicaciones a los funcionarios, empleados, agentes y representantes del agente residente, si los hubiere, ya sea verbalmente o por escrito, en relación con la información que deba ser conservada por una persona jurídica, acuerdo jurídico o agente residente conforme a la presente Ley. (Inserted by Act 38 of 2022)
(2a) La Autoridad Competente podrá, cuando a su juicio las circunstancias lo justifiquen, ejercer sus facultades conforme al subapartado (2) sin dar aviso a la persona jurídica o acuerdo jurídico. (Inserted by Act 38 of 2022)
(3) Toda persona que de cualquier manera impida, evite u obstruya a la Autoridad Competente en la realización de una inspección conforme a esta sección comete una infracción y será pasible, previa condena, de una multa que no exceda de SCR150,000. (Amended by Act 38 of 2022)
(a) especificados en la Parte A del Anexo 1, será la Financial Intelligence Unit;
(b) especificados en la Parte B del Anexo 1, será la Financial Services Authority.
(2) Sin limitar el carácter general del subapartado (1), con el único fin de supervisar y evaluar el cumplimiento de la presente Ley, la Autoridad Competente podrá, durante el horario normal de oficina y previo aviso razonable a la persona jurídica o acuerdo jurídico, según sea el caso—
(a) acceder al domicilio principal de actividad de su agente residente;
(b) inspeccionar los documentos que la presente Ley exige que sean conservados por la persona jurídica o el acuerdo jurídico; (Amended by Act 38 of 2022)
(c) examinar y hacer copias o extractos de los documentos pertenecientes al agente residente o en su posesión, que, a juicio de la Autoridad Competente, se relacionen con documentos o información que deban ser conservados por una persona jurídica, acuerdo jurídico o agente residente conforme a la presente Ley; (Inserted by Act 38 of 2022)
(d) solicitar información y explicaciones a los funcionarios, empleados, agentes y representantes del agente residente, si los hubiere, ya sea verbalmente o por escrito, en relación con la información que deba ser conservada por una persona jurídica, acuerdo jurídico o agente residente conforme a la presente Ley. (Inserted by Act 38 of 2022)
(2a) La Autoridad Competente podrá, cuando a su juicio las circunstancias lo justifiquen, ejercer sus facultades conforme al subapartado (2) sin dar aviso a la persona jurídica o acuerdo jurídico. (Inserted by Act 38 of 2022)
(3) Toda persona que de cualquier manera impida, evite u obstruya a la Autoridad Competente en la realización de una inspección conforme a esta sección comete una infracción y será pasible, previa condena, de una multa que no exceda de SCR150,000. (Amended by Act 38 of 2022)
Translation for information only. Only the English original is legally binding.
Original wording (English, legally binding): Competent Authorities
(1) For the purposes of this Act, “Competent Authority” in respect of legal persons and legal arrangements—
(a) specified in Part A of Schedule 1, shall be the Financial Intelligence Unit;
(b) specified in Part B of Schedule 1, shall be the Financial Services Authority.
(2) Without limiting the generality of subsection (1), for the sole purpose of monitoring and assessing compliance with this Act, the Competent Authority may, during normal office hours and after giving reasonable notice to the legal person or legal arrangement, as the case may be—
(a) access the principal place of business of its resident agent;
(b) inspect the documents required by this Act to be kept by the legal person or legal arrangement; (Amended by Act 38 of 2022)
(c) examine and make copies or extracts of the documents belonging to or in the possession of the resident agent, that in the opinion of the Competent Authority relate to documents or information required to be kept by a legal person, legal arrangement or resident agent under this Act; (Inserted by Act 38 of 2022)
(d) seek information and explanations from the officers, employees, agents and representatives of the resident agent, if any, whether verbally or in writing in relation to information required to be kept by a legal person, legal arrangement or resident agent under this Act. (Inserted by Act 38 of 2022)
(2a) The Competent Authority may, where it appears to it that the circumstances are justifiable, exercise its powers under subsection (2) without giving notice to the legal person or legal arrangement. (Inserted by Act 38 of 2022)
(3) Any person who in any manner impedes, prevents or obstructs the Competent Authority in the conduct of an inspection under this section commits an offence and is liable upon conviction to a fine not exceeding SCR150,000. (Amended by Act 38 of 2022)
(a) specified in Part A of Schedule 1, shall be the Financial Intelligence Unit;
(b) specified in Part B of Schedule 1, shall be the Financial Services Authority.
(2) Without limiting the generality of subsection (1), for the sole purpose of monitoring and assessing compliance with this Act, the Competent Authority may, during normal office hours and after giving reasonable notice to the legal person or legal arrangement, as the case may be—
(a) access the principal place of business of its resident agent;
(b) inspect the documents required by this Act to be kept by the legal person or legal arrangement; (Amended by Act 38 of 2022)
(c) examine and make copies or extracts of the documents belonging to or in the possession of the resident agent, that in the opinion of the Competent Authority relate to documents or information required to be kept by a legal person, legal arrangement or resident agent under this Act; (Inserted by Act 38 of 2022)
(d) seek information and explanations from the officers, employees, agents and representatives of the resident agent, if any, whether verbally or in writing in relation to information required to be kept by a legal person, legal arrangement or resident agent under this Act. (Inserted by Act 38 of 2022)
(2a) The Competent Authority may, where it appears to it that the circumstances are justifiable, exercise its powers under subsection (2) without giving notice to the legal person or legal arrangement. (Inserted by Act 38 of 2022)
(3) Any person who in any manner impedes, prevents or obstructs the Competent Authority in the conduct of an inspection under this section commits an offence and is liable upon conviction to a fine not exceeding SCR150,000. (Amended by Act 38 of 2022)
Official source: Beneficial Ownership Act (Cap. 251B), Act 4 of 2020, Revised Edition as at 31 May 2024 (Acts 4 of 2020, 6 of 2021, 26 of 2021, 38 of 2022, 28 of 2023); Act 18 of 2025 worked in by us
