GETTING

STARTED
WITH
SONAR For STR filers
(Updated on 1 July 2024)

Suspicious Transaction Reporting Office

STRO Online Notices And Reporting Platform (SONAR)
TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS
Compatible Web Browsers
SONAR platform has been tested to be compatible with the following web browsers:
• Internet Explorer 11
• Microsoft Edge (recommended) ! We recommend clearing your cache each time before starting a new
• Mozilla Firefox 50+ SONAR session using a private browser.
• Google Chrome 60+

To optimise your experience, you may wish to check with your IT department to ensure that the following
settings have been made on your organisation’s workstations and proxy servers.

Proxy Server Settings

• Allow internet traffic from the domain *.gov.sg
• Proxy server should not terminate or refresh internet access sessions automatically

Internet Explorer Settings

• Enable cookies
• Do not use the <Back>, <Forward> and <Refresh> buttons on your browser or use “Ctrl + N” to launch a new
window when the SONAR application is open. Keyboard shortcuts such as <Backspace> to go to the previous
page will also cause your session to be terminated prematurely.

Compatible Adobe Readers

Use only the following Adobe software:
• Acrobat DC (release note 15 or later) (Available for free on the Adobe website); OR
• Acrobat XI (release note 11 or later)

If you submit a report using an incompatible Adobe software or third party PDF editor, you may be required to
file your report again.

Do also install the necessary Adobe Font Pack(s) to use certain font type(s) in the form (available for free on the
Adobe website).
If you have created draft forms with outdated Adobe software or third party PDF editors, you should:
1. Delete the old drafts or templates;
2. Download a fresh template from SONAR; and
3. Use a compatible Adobe software to create a new draft

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INTRODUCTION AND CONTENTS
Introduction
In August 2018, the STRO Online Notices And Reporting platform (SONAR) replaced the Suspicious Transaction
On-Line Lodging System (STROLLS) to allow electronic submission of Suspicious Transaction Reports. SONAR is
also the consolidated platform to allow electronic submission of Cash Movement Reports (Form NP 728) and Cash
Transaction Reports (Form NP 784). This guide serves to inform Suspicious Transaction Report filers on the
functions of SONAR and how they can use SONAR to electronically submit Suspicious Transaction Reports.

Getting Started
- To begin, access SONAR through the Police e-Services webpage.
- Select ‘Lodge Report’.
- Under the category ‘Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Financing of Terrorism’, select ‘Suspicious Transaction
Report, Cash Movement Report (Form NP 728), Cash Transaction Report (Form NP 784) for Businesses’. You will
be redirected to the SingPass sign in page.
 You may choose to log in via the SingPass App or by entering your SingPass credentials.
! Do not bookmark this SingPass login page because this is a redirected link. Always access SONAR via the Police e-Services webpage.

Click on the relevant section you would like to know more about.
USER ADMINISTRATION REPORT FILING & BULLETINS
General Information on SONAR User Rights Submit Suspicious Transaction Reports

Apply for Administrator User Rights Search Submitted Reports

Create Non-Administrator Users View Bulletins and Alerts

Search, Edit and Delete Users SONAR Technical Requirements

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GENERAL INFORMATION ON
SONAR USER RIGHTS
SONAR User Rights
There are 3 main user rights on SONAR – Submitter, Reviewer and Administrator. Each SONAR user can hold any
combination of the 3 user rights.

SUBMITTER REVIEWER ADMINISTRATOR

Submit Reports Yes No No
Search and View Yes Yes
submitted Reports (for own submissions)
(for all submissions No
in the organisation)

Manage SONAR
user accounts No No Yes

Approval required
No No Yes
from STRO? (Need to submit application)

! Users can hold a combination of user rights. If you are a

submitter and reviewer, you will be able to submit reports
and search for all reports submitted by the organisation.

ADMINISTRATOR APPLICATION
Each organisation can only have a maximum of 2 users holding the Administrator user right.
Before you apply as an Administrator, please ensure that you have the following:
1. A valid CorpPass and SingPass account (Your entity’s CorpPass Admin has to create a CorpPass user account
for each individual user)
2. Access to SPF Digital Services (Your entity’s CorpPass Admin should assign users to “SPF e-Services (G2B)”)
3. Coloured copies of the following documents (to be submitted on SONAR):
a. Authorization letter with company letterhead (endorsed by Supervisor/Director whose position
is Head of Compliance or above*)
b. Endorser’s photo ID (front & back) in colour
c. If the endorser is an ACRA-listed Director/Partner, please provide the company’s ACRA Profile
* If you are an ACRA-listed Director/Partner (except for sole proprietors), the authorization letter needs to be endorsed by another
ACRA-listed Director/Partner of the same company.
The following pages contains detailed steps on how to apply for the administrator user right on SONAR.
Please note that turnaround time for approval may take up to 3 working days.

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APPLY FOR ADMINISTRATOR
USER RIGHTS
Applying for Administrator rights
You should see the following Homepage after logging in if you are an unregistered user. You will notice that you
are unable to view Bulletins and unable to submit Suspicious Transaction Reports.
1. Click on “Apply for Administrator Rights for self”

Your Name
Your Company’s Name

! Only registered users will be able to view

bulletins and download report template for
Suspicious Transaction Report
1

You will not be allowed to proceed further with your registration if your organisation already has 2
Administrators. The following prompt will appear. At least 1 of the existing Administrators will have to deactivate
his/her SONAR account in order for a new user to apply as Administrator.

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APPLY FOR ADMINISTRATOR
USER RIGHTS
Administrator Registration – Personal Particulars
1. Complete your Personal Particulars. You may notice that some fields have been auto-populated from
CorpPass
2. Select your required User Rights (If you select all three User Rights, you will be able to access all
functions on SONAR) and fill in details of your organisation’s registered address
3. Click “NEXT”

1
SXXXXXXXX

SXXXXXXXX

! Please provide a valid email address as the

outcome of your application will be sent to
the email address provided here.

! Some fields will be auto-populated according

to your CorpPass profile.

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APPLY FOR ADMINISTRATOR
USER RIGHT
Administrator Registration – Select Institution and Business Type
Select the applicable Institution and Business Type that applies to your organisation. This includes business
activities that your organisation is licensed to carry out.
1. Select an applicable Institution Type
2. Select an applicable Business Type - you may use Ctrl or Shift keys to select multiple items
3. Click “ADD”
4. Select another Institution and Business Type, if your company operates in more than one business
activity.

1
2

The Institution and Business Types will be added to the list at the bottom of the screen.
5. To remove an Institution Type/Business Type, click “Remove”
6. After adding all the applicable Institution Type and Business Type that applies to your organisation,
click “NEXT”

! Institution Type and Business Type affects what

bulletins your organisation will receive

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APPLY FOR ADMINISTRATOR
USER RIGHT
Administrator Registration – Supporting Documents
Supporting documents are required for users applying to be Administrators. Please follow the instructions on the
types of supporting documents required. If insufficient or erroneous documents are provided, the application will
be rejected and fresh applications will have to be submitted.
1. Click “ADD” to upload supporting documents. Use the checkboxes and click “DELETE” to remove
uploaded documents
2. Click “SUBMIT” when all the necessary supporting documents have been uploaded
3. A confirmation prompt will appear. Click “YES” to proceed.

endorser’s
endorser

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APPLY FOR ADMINISTRATOR
USER RIGHT
Administrator Registration – Acknowledgement
If your application is successfully submitted, you will be assigned an Application ID.
Please provide your Application ID when making queries to STRO for us to better assist you.

The Administrator application process is complete. You will be notified on the outcome of your application via
email. The approval process may take up to 3 working days.

! You will not be allowed to submit another administrator

application while we are reviewing the submitted
application. You will encounter the following error message.

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CREATE NON-ADMINISTRATOR
USERS
Account Creation – Submitters and Reviewers
This section is a guide on how to create non-administrator accounts. Click here to learn how to create
administrator accounts on SONAR.
To begin, click on “Create User Account” under the User Account Management menu.

! Only users with the Administrator user right will be

able to access User Account Management functions

1. Complete the required fields in the form

2. Indicate the effective period, status of account and user right(s) to be appointed
3. Click “SUBMIT”

! Institution and Business Type will be auto-populated

according to your organisation’s profile in SONAR.

! Please set Effective Date 1 day earlier than the date 3

you would like the user’s account to be active.

The user account will be created immediately. There is no approval process for non-administrator accounts.

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SEARCH, EDIT AND DELETE USERS
Search SONAR Accounts
To retrieve the list of SONAR users in your organisation, click “Search User Account”.

! Only users with the Administrator user right will be

able to access User Account Management functions

1. Key in either the NRIC/FIN, Full Name or User Rights of the user you would like to search for
2. Click “SEARCH”

3. The list of users that match your search parameters will be returned. Click on the NRIC/FIN of the user you
would like to edit/delete

To edit user information, please click on the NRIC/FIN of the user.

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SEARCH, EDIT AND DELETE USERS
Edit and Delete SONAR Accounts
You may make amendments to the user profile on this page.
1. Click “UPDATE” to save changes made to the profile
2. Click “DELETE” to delete this user’s SONAR account

SXXXXXXXX

Full Name

61234567

Sesame Street

2 1

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SUBMIT SUSPICIOUS TRANSACTION
REPORTS (STRs)
Submit STRs on SONAR
SONAR will only accept submissions of the validated STR Offline Forms.
1. To obtain a copy of the form template, click on “Suspicious Transaction Report (STR)” under the Blank
Report Template(s) Menu.
2. To begin filing reports, click on “Upload Report” in the Report Menu

Your Name
! If you have pre-registered as a SONAR user, please
check that your assigned user right(s) are accurate.
Your Company’s Name
Please contact STRO if you notice any discrepancy
or if you are reflected as an unregistered user.

! If prompted to “Open” or “Save As”, choose “Save As” and

1 download the file to your local disk. You will encounter an

error message if you open the file in your web browser.

3. In the form selection page that appears, select “Suspicious Transaction Report (STR)” in the drop-
down list to file STRs.
4. Click “NEXT”

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SUBMIT SUSPICIOUS TRANSACTION
REPORTS (STRs)
Submit STRs on SONAR
Upload only validated STR forms at the Upload Report screen
1. Click “ADD FILE(S)” to upload your form(s). Click “x” to delete the uploaded documents.
2. Click “UPLOAD”

! You may submit up to 10 files per submission

2
! Make sure that your forms have been validated (all sections are green in the
validation summary of your form) before submitting them on SONAR

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SUBMIT SUSPICIOUS TRANSACTION
REPORTS (STRs)
Submit STRs on SONAR
If you upload erroneous files, you will be prompted on the error encountered.
1. Click on the “x” beside the file to remove the erroneous file or a file you do not wish to submit
2. Click on the file you wish to submit to preview it. You will notice that your organisation’s name and
UEN will be auto-populated into the form. Please ensure that the information within the form is
correct before submitting the form
3. Verify the email address that you would like the acknowledgement email to be sent to
4. Check on the declaration checkbox and click “SUBMIT”
Sample Error Messages

2 1

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SUBMIT SUSPICIOUS TRANSACTION
REPORTS (STRs)
Submit STRs on SONAR (Acknowledgement)
Upon report submission, you will be directed to an acknowledgement page and provided with a Submission
Request ID. The submitted reports will be processed and you will receive an acknowledgement email within an
hour stating whether the submission was successful.

For successful submissions: Details of the submission, such as the Report Number and Date/Time of submission
etc. will be provided in the acknowledgement email.
Please retain a copy of the acknowledgment email as evidence of compliance with the requirement to file an
STR; and maintain a separate record that accurately reflects the contents of the STR filed with STRO.

For unsuccessful submissions: The error message will be provided in the acknowledgement email. You will need
to make the necessary amendments before resubmitting the report(s) on SONAR.

If you do not receive the acknowledgement email after 3-4 hours, you can email STRO at
[email protected] and quote the Submission Request ID. Alternatively, you can use the ‘Search
Submitted Report’ function to see if your submission was successful.

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SEARCH SUBMITTED REPORTS
Searching Submitted Reports on SONAR
To retrieve a list of submitted STRs, click on “Search Submitted Report” under the Report Menu.

Your Name

Your Company’s Name

! Submitters will only be able to retrieve reports

submitted by himself/herself.
Reviewers will be able to retrieve all reports
submitted by the organisation.

1. Select the Report Type you would like to search (Suspicious Transaction Reports)
2. Indicate either the Report No., date submitted, Submission Request ID or Internal Institution Ref No.
3. Click “SEARCH”
If you have not received the acknowledgement email, you can search using Internal Institution Ref No. or date
submitted to see if your submission was successful (Submission Request ID may take a while to be reflected)

1 2

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SEARCH SUBMITTED REPORTS
Searching Submitted Reports on SONAR
The list of STRs that match your search parameter(s) will be generated.
1. Click on the Report No. to view further details (E.g. Void Report information)
2. Click “EXPORT TO EXCEL” to export the results into an Excel file. The excel contains 1 additional
column: ‘Remark Date’

! Report No. supports partial search

! Please allow for a 5 to 10 minute processing time after submission for your submitted report to appear on the search
results. If you have not received the acknowledgement email, you can search using Internal Institution Ref No. or date
submitted to see if your submission was successful (Submission Request ID may take a while to be reflected)

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VIEW BULLETINS AND ALERTS
View Bulletins and Alerts on SONAR
A list of the latest bulletins and alerts will be displayed on your Homepage upon logging in. You may either click
on the date for each bulletin to view the detailed contents and attachment(s) or click on “View Bulletins” under
the Report Menu to view all bulletins and alerts.

Your Name
Your Company’s Name

Please download the attachment to view Suspicious…

180803-09-1 remark

Bulletin Content

remark

Bulletin Content

remark

Bulletin Content

remark

Bulletin Content

Bulletin Content

07/08/2018

Suspicious Indicators for Financial Institutions

Please download the attachment to view Suspicious Indicators

Suspicious_Indicators_for_Financial_Institutions.pdf

! Click on the Attachment file names to download the documents.

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