Characteristics of the subject of legalization (laundering) of property obtained by criminal means
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35774/app2026.02.213Keywords:
money laundering, laundering subject, professional intermediaries, psychological portrait, utility, latency, organized crime, moneyAbstract
Legalization of proceeds of crime is a widespread national and global challenge. The study of persons who launder money, the analysis of their behavior is important for a better understanding of both individual criminal offenses and the phenomenon of legalization in general. Such knowledge can be used, in particular, when developing a methodology for detecting and counteracting money laundering, forming new indicators, and generally strengthening international anti-legalization measures.
The article outlines the features, qualities and properties that are characteristic of subjects of the criminal offense of legalization (laundering) of property obtained by crime, the opinions of domestic and foreign researchers are processed, they are generalized and a list of individual criminological, social and psychological elements of the offender's portrait is formed.
It is revealed that subjects of legalization are characterized based on their age, gender, social and property status, intellectual level, status in society and criminal circles, as well as on the basis of human characteristics. Thus, the following characteristic features of a person committing acts of laundering property of criminal origin are summarized: latency, selfishness (greed, focus on satisfying material needs), organization, flexibility, adaptability, intelligence, sociability, social orientation, strong-willedness, energy, desire for success (in particular, joining the circle of the privileged).
It is concluded that selfishness, as a property and sign of the character of the subject of laundering (and which is comparable to the motive for committing a criminal offense) prevails and dominates not only in the works of scientists and researchers, but is also reflected in judicial practice - in real criminal proceedings that ended with guilty verdicts of the court that have entered into legal force.
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