Varese - Notary targeted by Gallarate Finance for a suspicious transaction: risk of fine up to 350 thousand euros - Varese Laghi - Varese News

Sales related to companies on the verge of bankruptcy with organized crime behind them ready to take over, also thanks to the work of a compliant notary.

The Finance Police of the Provincial Command of Varese , as part of the checks on anti-money laundering measures also applied to professionals, have identified a suspicious real estate transaction managed by a notary operating in the province of Pavia. The investigation , resulting from targeted checks, has highlighted serious omissions: the notary allegedly failed to carry out adequate customer verification and to report the transaction as suspicious.

The attention of the Guardia di Finanza focused on the sale of two properties at a price clearly below market value . Further investigation revealed significant anomalies: the use of bad checks made out to a non-existent company, the origin of the properties from a bankrupt company, and the purchase by an unemployed individual with a criminal record and ties to organized crime.

By virtue of the central role that notaries play in the anti-money laundering system — as subjects obliged not only to verify but also to report suspicious transactions — a specific check has been started on the professional. Notarial deeds, in fact, can fall within broader criminal contexts, linked to crimes such as fraudulent bankruptcy, tax evasion or money laundering.

At the end of the checks , it emerged that the notary had not correctly fulfilled the identification and verification obligations towards the parties involved, nor had he reported the transaction, despite the numerous critical issues found: from the nature of the subjects involved, to the payment methods, up to the evidently anomalous value of the properties.

The Guardia di Finanza has thus notified a report of the dispute containing all the violations and the related evidence. The document will be forwarded to the Ministry of Economy and Finance, which will be responsible for the evaluation and possible imposition of the sanction, which can reach, at most, the sum of 350 thousand euros.

Furthermore, in compliance with the ethical standards established by the National Council of Notaries , the professional body responsible for disciplinary aspects was also informed.

The intervention of the Guardia di Finanza is part of the national strategy for the prevention of money laundering, which aims to concentrate resources on the phenomena and subjects most at risk, avoiding indiscriminate controls but privileging the situations of greatest alert.