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Glossary entry

French term or phrase:

blanchiment de délits

English translation:

laundering the proceeds (of criminal activities)

Added to glossary by Wendy Cummings
Sep 19, 2017 12:39
6 yrs ago
5 viewers *
French term

blanchiment de délits

French to English Law/Patents Law (general) criminal law
Good afternoon all,

I am translating a ruling from a criminal court in relation to a money laundering and tax evasion case. However, the document on several occasions refers not to the "blanchiment de fonds" but to the "blanchiment de delits (fiscaux)". e.g.

un groupement formé en vue de la préparation des délits de blanchiment de divers délits [sic]

le blanchiment de fraude fiscale

le blanchiment de délits ayant procuré à ses clients un profit direct

Is it possible to "launder" an offence? Or would we rather say something like conceal, cover up etc.? Alternatively, should I given an expanded interpretation of the phrase for example "blanchiment (des revenues generees par le delit) de fraude fiscale"?

Thanks.
Proposed translations (English)
4 +2 laundering the proceeds
3 -2 whitewashing of criminal offences
Change log

Sep 20, 2017 00:15: Yolanda Broad changed "Term asked" from "blanchiment de delits" to "blanchiment de délits"

Discussion

Nikki Scott-Despaigne Sep 20, 2017:
I suspect the intention is to describe in a succint way the nature of the initial offence and the fact that the gain/proceeds from that initial offence were then laundered. Logically, I think that Phil's short explanation is correct : laundering the proceeds of crime = money-laundering. The very term "laundering" implies that a crime has gone before. Seeking to launder money earned legally is pointless unless it involves failing to declare all or some of income earned that way, thus tax fraud.
The solution probably lies in Phil's suggestion, using a verbal expression (to launder the proceeds of) where the French uses a noun (blanchiment).
The source text is not expressed in a way that is common on this matter. I have done a fair bit of money-laundering translation in the past. (If ever anyone cites me on that, please site the whole prhase!;-)).
AllegroTrans Sep 19, 2017:
blanchiment = money laudering
de = from
délits = ciimes, criminal offences
philgoddard Sep 19, 2017:
I think the literal meaning is 'laundering the proceeds of crime', ie money laundering.
Marco Solinas Sep 19, 2017:
To Wendy This book (in English) deals with the specific offence contemplated by the French criminal code. It may provide some clues: https://books.google.ca/books?id=cVLUdo4JQv4C&pg=PT3136&lpg=...
Marco Solinas Sep 19, 2017:
To: Wendy The expression to launder an offense (no matter which) just does not sound right. On the other hand, the offence contemplated by the French criminal code (see: https://www.l-expert-comptable.com/blanchiment-fraude-fiscal... ) seems to be more specific than concealing an original offense; it applies specifically to disguising the origin of revenues. I think your suggestion to paraphrase by "blanchiment (des revenues generees par le delit) de fraude fiscale" sounds right.
Wendy Cummings (asker) Sep 19, 2017:
@Marco Thanks, that's a handy little example. As I understand it, the whole point of money laundering is to hide the proceeds of a crime, and so as well as the money laundering offence, there will always be another offence that precedes it.

But returning to the translation, would we be able to say "he is accused of laundering tax evasion", or would we have to say either "...of laundering the proceeds of tax evasion" or "...of concealing his tax evasion activities"? i.e. can you directly "launder" an "offence"?
Marco Solinas Sep 19, 2017:
Definition Here is a definition of "blanchment de fraude fiscale": "Qu’est-ce que le blanchiment de fraude fiscale ?
Ce délit se caractérise en deux temps. «Il faut une infraction d’origine, la fraude fiscale, explique Jérôme Lasserre Capdeville, maître de conférence à l’Université de Strasbourg. En clair, vous ne déclarez pas tous vos revenus au fisc. Puis, en plaçant cet argent en Suisse, sans le déclarer, et en l’utilisant pour acquérir des biens, on réalise un acte de blanchiment.»". It is found in: http://www.liberation.fr/france/2013/03/19/le-blanchiment-de... . It sounds as if they mean laundering of the proceeds of the tax fraud.
Wendy Cummings (asker) Sep 19, 2017:
France Sorry, should have said, it's definitely France.
Nikki Scott-Despaigne Sep 19, 2017:
Is the original with reference to France, or another jurisdiction? I'm about to go out, but I think it is Switzerland. In that case, you might like to check official Swiss sources and cross-check EN versions of the pages you find.

Edit : Just had a quick look myself. Hmm. perhaps you coudl ask the client.

Proposed translations

+2
5 hrs
French term (edited): blanchiment de delits
Selected

laundering the proceeds

I agree with Phil in the discussion, but I think "proceeds" is enough, the "crime" is implied.
Peer comment(s):
agree AllegroTrans
1 hr
agree Nikki Scott-Despaigne : laundering the proceeds of/from + crime/tax fraud, etc.
14 hrs
neutral Adam Warren : laundering the proceeds of crime
1 day 21 hrs
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thanks."
-2
5 hrs
French term (edited): blanchiment de délits

whitewashing of criminal offences

dressing of criminal offences [like "dressing the set" in a theatre or for filming a movie]

obfuscation of criminal offences

masking of criminal offences [that one sounds right!]

etc...

in order to make them look like legitimate business

"laundering criminal offences" doesn't sound right - you could figuratively wash/launder "dirty" money [perceived as a "tangible object", even if most of it is in fact just scriptural money] to make it look squeaky clean, but you couldn't really "launder" some wrongdoing [acts/actions].
Peer comment(s):
neutral AllegroTrans : this just does not sound right; for one thing it doesn't google and for another it is ambiguous (sweeping the offences under the carpet? not prosecuting them? letting criminals get away scot free?); this has got to be about money laundering
1 hr
yeah, that's the idea: "sweeping the offences under the carpet"- make them "look legitimate" // that how they presented it, of course "money laundering" is the other way of looking at the same acts.
neutral Nikki Scott-Despaigne : In such contexts, the term "blanchiment" means "money-laundering", thus "laundering the proceeds of" whatever criminal activity, or disguised income from legal activity; in the latter case, the fact of having disguised revenue is the crime.
14 hrs
I know perfectly well what is "blanchiment d'argent [sale]" but here it's about "blanchiment de délits" it's about making the crime look legitimate, not the money / of course you can always ignore the nuance, it's two sides of the same coin!
disagree Ben Gaia : "Whitewash" means an official report on an activity that deliberately downplays any negative issues and ignores problems which should be exposed.
23 hrs
disagree Adam Warren : AMF source: laundering the proceeds of crime
1 day 21 hrs
interesting methodology: just keep repeating the title ...
Something went wrong...
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