FCA Charges Former UBS Compliance Officer with Insider Dealing

Fabiana Abdel-Malek, a former Compliance officer at UBS AG’s London Branch, was today charged with insider dealing by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ).

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The UK’s financial watchdog today said that it has instituted criminal proceedings against Fabiana Abdel-Malek, 34, and Walid Choucair, 38, charging them with five counts of insider trading between June 2013 and June 2014. The defendants allegedly made £1.8 million in profit through the inside trading of shares of Elizabeth Arden Inc. and four other companies.

The FCA claims that the alleged activities took place on five occasions in which Mr. Abdel-Malek, who had worked in the compliance team of the Swiss bank for over a decade, disclosed “information otherwise than in the proper performance of the functions of his employment, office or profession, to Walid Anis Choucair."

In turn, Mr. Choucair, of London, is accused by the FCA of using the insider information to deal in securities, the prices of which were affected in the same one-year time period, according to the filings.

A count of insider dealing in the UK carries a maximum prison term of seven years.

The pair appeared at City of London Magistrates’ Court on 16 June 2017 for the first time to face the allegations. In addition, they are scheduled to appear at Southwark Crown Court next month to be confirmed for a Plea and Trial Preparation Hearing, the FCA said.