Evidence and case management for ML to be deliberated at AML/CFT workshop

DPI, GUYANA, Tuesday, April 24, 2018

The Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) workshop for Judges and Prosecutors which will commence on May 2, 2018 at the Pegasus Hotel will focus on evidence and case management for money laundering and confiscation.

Challenges relating to international cooperation and the roles of judges and prosecutors in countering terrorism, terrorist financing and violent extremism will also be addressed.

The workshop will feature several short presentations or panels to help participants focus on relevant issues, followed by open discussions with conclusions to be drawn.

It aims to gather experiences from practitioners on the challenges and difficulties they face while investigating and prosecuting money laundering and terrorist financing.

In addition, to a report, which will act as a guide on tackling money laundering, a short summary record to brief the May 2018 plenary of the CFATF on the issues discussed, primarily the challenges and best practices will be prepared.

Commonwealth Secretariat member states including Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) and Dominica, among others are participating in the workshop.

Chief Magistrate, TCI, Margaret Ramsey-Hale, Law Enforcement Advisor, CFATF Secretariat, Pedro Harry and Executive Director, CFATF Dawne Spicer are among the 60 participants expected at the workshop.

Guyana has established the legal framework to ensure it is compliant with CFATF and FATF regulations. The country is now working towards clearing the fourth round of mutual evaluation.

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams, SC, had noted that the hosting of this very important workshop signals a step in the right direction by the country, which was once blacklisted by both the CFATF and FATF under the previous regime.

The country has also taken several measures to ensure it deters corruption in public offices.

According to the CFATF, the work of judges and prosecutors is crucial to consolidating stable and effective institutions, transparency and the rule of law, which are all pillars of an effective anti-money laundering and countering terrorist financing system.

The FATF is bringing together judges and prosecutors from all around the world in a series of regional workshops.

This will contribute to improve the effectiveness in fighting money laundering and terrorist financing.

 

By: Stacy Carmichael