In which predicate crime of money laundering is the AMLC allowed to inquire bank deposits of suspected laundered assets despite absence of a court order from the Court of Appeals?

• A. Financing of terrorism
• B. Plunder
• C. Smuggling
• D. Human trafficking

Answer: (A)

The important idea here is how AMLC’s access to bank records is prioritized when a crime involves money laundering tied to national security. For financing of terrorism, there is a specific provision allowing the AMLC to inquire into bank deposits of suspected laundered assets without needing a Court of Appeals order. This exception exists because stopping terrorism financing requires rapid access to financial information to disrupt networks before funds move further. The other listed predicate crimes—plunder, smuggling, and human trafficking—do not carry that explicit bypass, so obtaining bank records typically follows the regular legal channels, which may include court involvement. So, financing of terrorism is the scenario that allows AMLC to obtain such deposits without a CA order, reflecting the urgency and security implications of terrorist financing.