Language:
Search
 
STR (Suspicious Transaction Report) Tracker
Ministry of Interior
Bahrain

The Problem

Before the program was established, Bahrain FIU (Financial Intelligence Unit) used to work on Microsoft Excel (a basic system) which provided the details around the STR e.g. name, address, nationality, date of birth, source of suspicion, type of transaction i.e. is it through cash, telex transfer or others, the amounts were given in Bahraini dinars or any foreign currency; the bank, the company, the name of the MLRO and the date of reporting.

Solution and Key Benefits

 What is the initiative about? (the solution)
When we started to work in the Programme, we had implemented all the above details on it. Later on we could update the STR's and make the statistic report whenever required. This was very helpful for us to enter the required details and easy to track a previous STR.

Actors and Stakeholders

 Who proposed the solution, who implemented it and who were the stakeholders?
The FIU had discussed the necessity to have our own database to track the STRs with the IT department within the AECD (Anti Economic Crimes Directorate). In November 2008 they started to work on implementing our own database using Oracle with Visual Basic as front end. The application was implemented and used for two years by 16 users. Later recommendations and suggestions were put on by the IT department (AECD) to upgrade the system. So they started in Feb 2010 to upgrade the system for user friendly approach, simplicity and efficiency to perform the task. They used Java and jsp for front end with oracle database. After this they started developing a web application using (Java with jsp). There are 16 users using this system who are in terms of the beneficiaries also. Later on they started to work on implementing our own database. Then FIU had authorized the analysts to handle and take control of the data entry and the analyzing part.

(a) Strategies

 Describe how and when the initiative was implemented by answering these questions
 a.      What were the strategies used to implement the initiative? In no more than 500 words, provide a summary of the main objectives and strategies of the initiative, how they were established and by whom.
The main objective was to cope with the technological developments in order to get effective achievements. According to national-long-term strategy (2030) this system is able to meet our objectives with regard to sustainability, competitiveness, fairness and effectiveness. The system meets the MOI strategy with regards to its efficiency in its use.

(b) Implementation

 b.      What were the key development and implementation steps and the chronology? No more than 500 words
In November 2008 the IT department (AECD) started to work on implementing our own database using Oracle with Visual Basic as front end. Later on in Feb 2010 they started to upgrade this system as web application system. The upgraded application is used by FIU in Jan 2011.
We started the program by following the rules, which were:
- starting in a very simple system then develop it based on required needs
- testing the Programme in a daily base
- designing the Programme
- asking our employees to work within it
- making the necessary changes
- managing to keep the program in a security bases.

(c) Overcoming Obstacles

 c.      What were the main obstacles encountered? How were they overcome? No more than 500 words
The obstacle we faced was lack of specialized staff and lack proper strategy to go a head with this program. Then the IT department (AECD) approached to structure a database for FIU. Then they use VB as front end. Then the system was implemented and used by FIU staff (16 users). After using this system about two years the IT department (AECD) recommended to upgrade it to a web application (Java with jsp). To implement the upgrade version of the system the Java programmers from Planning and Organization department (MOI) worked with IT department (AECD). We managed to get the needed help from other directorates within Ministry of Interior and even from the CIO.

(d) Use of Resources

 d.      What resources were used for the initiative and what were its key benefits? In no more than 500 words, specify what were the financial, technical and human resources’ costs associated with this initiative. Describe how resources were mobilized
We chose a special team to analyze, design, develop, test, upgrade and implement our program that consists of 4 - 5. The FIU staff started using the program. Oracle, Visual Basic, Netbeans IDE (Java with jsp).

Sustainability and Transferability

  Is the initiative sustainable and transferable?
The STR tracker is specialized for the Financial Intelligece Unit and we can provide the needed information to the concerned authorities for any asked details.
We are working on developing our system through contacting electronically with the following concerned authorities:
• The MLROs
• Using the i2 system
• Collecting the needed information from: Customs, Coast Guard, The General Directorate of Traffic, Najam.
• Contacting with Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Ministry of Social Developments.
• To activate the Terrorist Financing part
We could consider the STR tracker as our own source to collect all the needed information, in order to analyze.

Lessons Learned

 What are the impact of your initiative and the lessons learned?
The STR tracker made our work much easier by entering the data, reviewing it, analyzing the data in a professional way at the same time. We were able to minimize the usage of papers through reviewing the STRs electronically. We can take decisions easily. Help us to maintain STR database. In terms of keeping us up to date. In year 2008 we received 441 STRs. In year 2009 we received 240 STRs. In the year 2010 we received 367 STRs.

Contact Information

Institution Name:   Ministry of Interior
Institution Type:   Government Agency  
Contact Person:   Ahmed Al-Manaai
Title:   Head of Police Media Center  
Telephone/ Fax:   +97317390900
Institution's / Project's Website:   www.bahrainfiu.gov.bh
E-mail:   mviqaruddin@ega.gov.bh  
Address:   P.O. Box 13
Postal Code:  
City:   Manama
State/Province:  
Country:   Bahrain

          Go Back
Print friendly Page