Criminal money – A deceitful asset manager
Saara's case is fictional, but based on real-life observations of professional enabling
Saara, a young asset manager, meets a new corporate client at her office. The client is an older, self-confident man with an air of power and success about him. He talks about large investment assets that could come to Saara for her to manage – he promises a large contract, a major opportunity for a young asset manager. From the outside, everything looks promising, but something about the client's performance makes Saara suspicious.
She checks the client's ID, looks at the documents and enters the information into the systems. She tries to look confident but something in the client's gaze makes her hesitate. The client leaves the meeting feeling satisfied, but Saara's mind is full of doubt.
Saara ponders the information provided by the customer – what does the company actually do? Why doesn’t it have any assets on its balance sheet? Where do the investment assets come from? Ambition and doubts battle for supremacy in her mind.
Saara decides to discuss her concerns with her supervisor, but he seems busy and frustrated. "It's okay, just go ahead. This is an important client for us." Saara hesitates, but the desire to maintain a good relationship with the important client and her supervisor drives her to continue.
Months pass but her suspicions persist. One night, Saara can't sleep. She scrolls through the news trying to quell her suspicions. Suddenly she sees something: "Police open criminal investigation – company suspected of money laundering and tax fraud." Horror fills her mind as she realises that she has been involved in criminal activity. This isn't just any old error – it's a crime and she is part of it.
Saara realises that the choices she has made have brought her to this point. From the outside, everything still seems fine – customers are smiling and her supervisor is content – but she knows that she is now involved in criminal activity. Fear and despair fill her mind and she feels alone in the midst of this web of deceit and doesn't know how to get out of it.
What should she do now? Could she have prevented this if she had dared to question and act as soon as her first suspicions arose? She knows that the choice was hers and that that choice has now led her to a dark place.
The weeks pass and one morning Saara's phone rings. A police officer is on the phone and calls Saara in for questioning. She is not yet a suspect but the situation is very distressing for her. After the call, Saara reflects on her future and how the case could affect her career.
