Hedge fund compliance officer banned for post-Lehmans failings

The FSA has banned a hedge fund manager and fined him £14,000 for failing to spot attempts by an employee to hide huge losses caused by the collapse of Lehman Brothers.

Dr Sandradee Joseph was compliance officer at Dynamic Decisions Capital Management (DDCM), a hedge fund management company based in London and Milan.

In the wake of the collapse of Lehman Brothers, the investment strategy adopted by DDCM for the fund it managed resulted in losses totalling approximately 85% of the fund's total assets under management.

To conceal the losses, in late 2008, a senior employee at DDCM entered into a number of contracts, on behalf of investment funds managed by DDCM, for the purchase and resale of a bond.

Various investors raised concerns that the bond was of doubtful provenance and legitimacy, and DDCM's prime broker resigned as a result of its concerns.

Joseph failed to consider the reasons for the prime broker resigning and despite being aware of the investors´ concerns about the Bond she failed to properly investigate those concerns or act upon the information.

In doing so, Joseph did not engage with her responsibilities as Compliance Officer and therefore failed to act with due skill and care.

She relied wrongly on another employee of DDCM, and on her belief that external lawyers were instructed and would have acted on concerns as appropriate.

Tracey McDermott, acting director of enforcement and financial crime, said:
"Joseph's failure, as Compliance Officer, to challenge a colleague, investigate and act on the information she received, resulted in DDCM and the FSA being unable to take appropriate action.

"Joseph took far too narrow a view of her role as a Compliance Officer. She failed to understand the importance of her role and the wider regulatory obligations it brings.

"The FSA is committed to driving up standards across the industry and will take robust action against those who do not meet our standards."

Joseph agreed to settle during the course of the FSA investigation. She therefore qualifies for a 30% reduction on her financial penalty.

Were it not for this discount, the FSA would have imposed a financial penalty of £20,000 on Joseph.