Banking (Foreign Exchange) Regulations 1959 - Direction Relating to Foreign Currency Transactions and to Syria (16/06/2011)

Administered by Department of the Treasury

Legislation au F2011L01115 Not in force Legislative Instrument

Legislation content

Direction relating to foreign currency transactions and to Syria (16/06/2011)

as amended

made under regulation 5 of the

Banking (Foreign Exchange) Regulations 1959

This compilation was prepared on 19 October 2011
taking into account amendments up to Direction relating to foreign currency transactions and to Syria – Amendment to the Annex and Variation of Exemptions  Amendment to the Annexes (13/10/2011)

Prepared by the Office of Legislative Drafting and Publishing,
Attorney-General’s Department, Canberra

 

Banking (Foreign Exchange) Regulations 1959

Direction relating to foreign currency transactions and to Syria (16/06/2011)

The Reserve Bank of Australia, pursuant to regulation 5 of the Banking (Foreign Exchange) Regulations 1959, hereby directs that:

  1. a person must not, either on the person’s own behalf or on behalf of another person, buy, borrow, sell, lend or exchange foreign currency in Australia, or otherwise deal with foreign currency in any other way in Australia;
  2. a resident, or a person acting on behalf of a resident, must not buy, borrow, sell, lend or exchange foreign currency outside Australia, or otherwise deal with foreign currency in any other way outside Australia;
  3. a person must not be a party to a transaction, being a transaction that takes place in whole or in part in Australia or to which a resident is a party, that has the effect of, or involves, a purchase, borrowing, sale, loan or exchange of foreign currency, or otherwise relates to foreign currency

where the transaction relates to property, securities or funds owned or controlled directly or indirectly by, or otherwise relates to payments directly or indirectly to, or for the benefit of any person listed in the Annex to this direction.

The Annex to this direction may be amended from time to time. Any such amendment shall be taken as being part of this direction as from the date specified in the amendment.

This instrument comes into operation on 22 June 2011.

Dated at Sydney this 16th day of June 2011.

 

Annex

 

PERSON/ENTITY

DESCRIPTION

Al-Abbas, Amjad

Head of Political Security in Banias, has been involved in violence against demonstrators in Baida.

 

Al-Assad, Bashar

Born 11 September 1965 in Damascus; diplomatic passport No. D1903.

President of the Syrian Arab Republic, responsible for violence against demonstrators.

 

Al-Assad, Fawwaz

Involved in repression against the civilian population as part of the Shabiha militia.

 

Al-Asad, Mahir

aka Maher Al-Assad.

Born 8 December 1967, diplomatic passport No. 4138

Brother of Syrian President Bashar Al-Asad and brigade commander in the Syrian Army’s 4th Armoured Division.

 

Al-Assad, Mundir

Involved in repression against the civilian population as part of the Shabiha militia.

 

Al-Chaar, Mohammad Ibrahim

Syria’s Minister for Interior, has been involved in violence against demonstrators.

 

Al-Shara, Farouk

aka Faruq Al Shar’.

Born 10 December 1938.

Vice President of the Syrian Arab Republic, responsible for violence against demonstrators.

 

Ghazali, Rustum

Head of Syrian Military Intelligence, and involved in repression against the civilian population.

 

Hassan, Jamil

Head of Syrian Airforce Intelligence, has been involved in the repression against the civilian population.

 

al Kuzbari, Nabil Rafik

Nabil Rafik al Kuzbari is the Chairman of Chan Holding and acts on behalf of Rami Makhlouf.  Chan Holding is tied to public corruption in Syria and is owned by Rami Makhlouf, a designated individual.

 

Mahmoud, Ali Habib

Minister of Defence of the Syrian Arab Republic, responsible for violence against demonstrators.

 

Makhlouf, Hafez

Born 2 April 1971 in Damascus; diplomatic passport number 2246.

Colonel and Head of Unit in General Intelligence Directorate, Damascus Branch. Close to Mahir Al-Assad has been involved in violence against demonstrators.

 

Makhlouf, Rami

Born 10 July 1969 in Damascus; passport number 454224.

Syrian businessman and associate of Mahir AlAssad, bankrolls the regime allowing violence against protestors.

 

Mamluk, Ali

aka Ali Mamlouk.

Born 19 February 1946, Damascus, diplomatic passport No. 983.

Director of Syria’s General Intelligence Directorate (GID)

 

Najib, Atif

aka Atef Najib.

Cousin of Syrian President Bashar Al-Asad and head of Syria’s Political Security Directorate for Dar’a Province during March 2011.

 

Safar, Adel

Prime Minister of the Syrian Arab Republic, responsible for violence against demonstrators.

 

Qudsiyah, Abd Al-Fatah

Head of Syrian Military Intelligence, has been involved in the repression against the civilian population.

 

Zeitoun, Mohammed Dib

Head of Political Security, has been involved in violence against demonstrators.

 

Al Mashreq Investment Fund

Al Mashreq Investment Fund is tied to public corruption in Syria and is owned by Rami Makhlouf, a designated individual.

 

Bena Properties

Bena Properties is tied to public corruption in Syria and is owned by Rami Makhlouf, a designated individual.

 

Chan Holding

Chan Holding is tied to public corruption in Syria and is owned by Rami Makhlouf, a designated individual.

 

Syrian Air Force Intelligence (SAFI)

In late April 2011, security forces including personnel from SAFI fired tear gas and live ammunition to disperse crowds of demonstrators who took to the streets in Damascus and other cities after noon prayers, killing at least 43 people.

 

Syrian General Intelligence Directorate (GID)

 

 

 

Syrian Military Intelligence (SMI)

The Syrian Military Intelligence is one of the four major branches of Syria's security forces and has used force against and arrested demonstrators participating in the unrest.

 

Syrian National Security Bureau (NSB)

The Syrian National Security Bureau is an element of the Syrian Ba'ath Party and directed Syrian security forces to use extreme force against demonstrators.

 

Al Hassan, Bassam

Presidential Advisor for Strategic Affairs; involved in the crackdown on the civilian population.

 

Hamcho, Mohamed

Born 20 May 1966, passport no. 002954347.

Brother-in-law of Mahir Al-Assad (principal overseer of violence against demonstrators); businessman and local agent for several foreign companies; provides funding to the regime allowing the crackdown on demonstrators.

 

Ikhtiyar, Hisham

Born in 1941.

Head of the Syrian National Security Bureau; involved in the crackdown on the civilian population.

 

Khayrbik, Muhammad Nasif

Born on 10 April 1937 (alt. 20 May 1937) in Hama, diplomatic passport no. 0002250.

Deputy Vice President of Syria for National Security Affairs; involved in the crackdown on the civilian population.

 

Makhlouf, Ihab

aka Ehab Makhlouf, aka Iehab Makhlouf.

Born 21 January 1973 in Damascus, passport no. N002848852.

Vice-President of SyriaTel and caretaker for Rami Makhlouf’s US company; provides funding to the regime allowing the crackdown on demonstrators.

 

Makhlouf, Iyad

aka Eyad Makhlouf.

Born 21 January 1973 in Damascus, passport no. N001820740.

Brother of Rami Makhlouf (businessman who provides funding to the regime) and GID officer involved in the crackdown on the civilian population.

 

Rajiha, Dawud

Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces responsible for the military involvement in the crackdown on peaceful protestors.

 

Shawkat, Asif

Born 15 January 1950 in Al-Madehleh, Tartus.

Deputy Chief of Staff for Security and Reconnaissance; involved in the crackdown on the civilian population.

 

Chaliche, Zoulhima

Born in 1946 or 1951 in Kerdaha.

Head of Presidential Security and involved in violence against demonstrators; first cousin of President Assad.

 

Chaliche, Riyad

Director of the Military Housing Establishment, who has provided funds to the Assad regime; first cousin of President Assad.

 

Jabir, Ayman

Associate of Mahir al-Assad, involved with the Shabiha military. Directly involved in the repression and violence against the civilian population and co-ordination of Shabiha militia groups.

 

Makhlouf, Mohammed

aka Abu Rami.

Close associate and maternal uncle of Bashar and Mahir al-Assad. Business associate and father of Rami, Ihab and Iyad Makhlouf.

 

Mufleh, Mohammad

Head of Syrian Military Intelligence in the town of Hama.

 

Qaddur, Khalid

Has close ties to Rami Makhlouf, a cousin of President Assad who is listed for the financial support he provides to the regime.

 

al-Quwatli, Ra’if

Has close ties to Rami Makhlouf, a cousin of President Assad, who is listed for the financial support he provides to the regime.

 

Younes, Major General Tawfiq

Head of the Department for Internal Security of the General Intelligence Directorate.

 

Commercial Bank of Syria

A Syrian state-owned financial institution which provides financial support to the regime and is an agent of designated Syrian and North Korean WMD proliferators and engaging in dealings with designated Iranian banks.

 

Hamcho International

aka Hamsho International Group.

Controlled by Mohammad Hamcho or Hamsho and provides funding to the Assad regime.

 

Military Housing Establishment

aka MILIHOUSE.

A public works company controlled by Riyad Chaliche and the Syrian Ministry of Defence; provides funding to the regime.

 

Syrian Lebanese Commercial Bank

Owned or controlled by the Commercial Bank of Syria

 

Syrian Political Security Directorate

Has been responsible for human rights abuses in the Syrian city of Daraa in March and April 2011.

 

Syriatel

Owned or controlled by Rami Makhlouf, Syrian businessman and regime insider and by Al Mashreq Investment Fund, both of which are already listed by Australia.

 

 

 

Notes to the Direction relating to foreign currency transactions and to Syria (16/06/2011)

Note 1

The Direction relating to foreign currency transactions and to Syria (16/06/2011) (in force under regulation 5 of the Banking (Foreign Exchange) Regulations 1959) as shown in this compilation is amended as indicated in the Tables below.

Table of Instruments

Title

Date of FRLI registration/
notification in
Gazette

Date of
commencement

Application, saving or
transitional provisions

Direction relating to foreign currency transactions and to Syria (16/06/2011)

21 June 2011 (see F2011L01115)

22 June 2011 (see Gazette 2011, No. GN24)

22 June 2011

 

Direction relating to foreign currency  transactions and to Syria – Amendment to the Annex and Variation of Exemptions  Amendment to the Annexes (28/07/2011)

2 Aug 2011 (see F2011L01591)

3 Aug 2011 (see Gazette 2011, No. GN30)

3 Aug 2011

Direction relating to foreign currency  transactions and to Syria – Amendment to the Annex and Variation of Exemptions  Amendment to the Annexes (13/10/2011)

18 Oct 2011 (see F2011L02084

19 Oct 2011 (see Gazette 2011, No. GN41)

19 Oct 2011

Table of Amendments

ad. = added or inserted      am. = amended      rep. = repealed      rs. = repealed and substituted

Provision affected

How affected

Annex.......................

rs. F2011L01591; F2011L02084

 

 

Overview

The Direction relating to foreign currency transactions and to Syria (16/06/2011), made under the Banking (Foreign Exchange) Regulations 1959, was introduced by the Reserve Bank of Australia to address issues arising from the Syrian conflict and the need to impose economic sanctions. The objective of this legislation is to prevent Australians and Australian residents from engaging in financial transactions with individuals and entities linked to the Syrian government's violent crackdown on protestors. The policy objective is to exert economic pressure on the Syrian regime by restricting financial activities that could support the ongoing repression and violence. The Direction came into effect on 22 June 2011 and has been subject to amendments to update the list of designated individuals and entities, ensuring the sanctions remain effective and relevant to the evolving situation in Syria.

Scope and Application

The Direction relating to foreign currency transactions and to Syria, made under the Banking (Foreign Exchange) Regulations 1959, applies to all persons within Australia and to Australian residents outside Australia. It mandates that individuals, either on their own behalf or on behalf of another person, are prohibited from engaging in any transaction involving foreign currency within Australia. Similarly, Australian residents are barred from dealing with foreign currency outside Australia. The prohibition extends to any transaction that, in whole or in part, occurs within Australia or involves a resident and results in the purchase, borrowing, sale, lending, or exchange of foreign currency, or relates to property, securities, or funds owned or controlled by, or payments made to, any person or entity listed in the Annex to this direction. The Annex includes specific individuals, government officials, military personnel, and entities associated with the Syrian regime or involved in violence against demonstrators. This Direction, which came into operation on 22 June 2011, can be amended over time, with any such amendments considered part of the Direction from the specified date.

Key Provisions

The Direction relating to foreign currency transactions and to Syria (16/06/2011) under the Banking (Foreign Exchange) Regulations 1959 sets out specific restrictions on foreign currency transactions, particularly in relation to certain individuals and entities connected to the Syrian regime. According to section 3 of this legislative instrument, it is prohibited for any person to engage in any transaction involving foreign currency in Australia (subsection (a)). Additionally, residents or those acting on their behalf are forbidden from dealing with foreign currency outside Australia (subsection (b)). Furthermore, any transaction that involves foreign currency and relates to designated persons or entities, such as those listed in the Annex, is also prohibited (subsection (c)). The Annex lists individuals and entities, including high-ranking officials and entities involved in the Syrian government's repression and corruption. The obligations imposed by this Act are stringent and apply to any person within Australia's jurisdiction. They must refrain from any activity involving foreign currency if it pertains to the listed individuals or entities. This includes not only direct transactions but also any dealings that might indirectly involve the designated persons or entities. Residents of Australia are further restricted from engaging in such transactions outside of Australia, ensuring a comprehensive scope of the prohibitions. Breaches of this Direction can lead to serious consequences. While the specific offences and penalties are not detailed in the text, it is clear that violations of the Banking (Foreign Exchange) Regulations 1959 can result in significant legal repercussions. Typically, penalties for contravening foreign exchange regulations can include substantial fines and, in severe cases, imprisonment. The exact penalties would be determined by the courts based on the nature and severity of the breach, but the potential for criminal charges underscores the seriousness with which these restrictions are enforced.

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.