When is a money laundering offence committed?

A money laundering offence is committed when criminal property is disguised or concealed. This is a key aspect of money laundering, as the primary intention behind such activities is to make illicit funds appear legitimate. The process usually involves a series of transactions that hide the origin of the money derived from criminal activities, thereby allowing the offenders to use the funds without drawing attention to their unlawful source.

In contrast, breaking legal rights, reporting criminal activity, or transferring money legally do not constitute money laundering. Breaking legal rights pertains to violations of law but does not specifically relate to the concealment or disguise of proceeds from crime. Reporting criminal activity is an important step in law enforcement but is unrelated to the act of laundering money. Lastly, transferring money legally is a routine financial transaction that does not involve any concealment of its illicit origins, making it fundamentally distinct from money laundering.