Parliamentarians in Dominica have revealed that two Bills passed on Monday, June 27thregarding money laundering and proceeds of crime will ensure that law enforcers experience fewer challenges when addressing incidents of illegal activities.
The Money Laundering Prevention Amendment Act No. 8 of 2016 and the proceeds of crime amendment act of 2016 were passed on Monday, 27th June.
Prior to this, money laundering would be categorized as either hybrid or indictable offences making the activity difficult to prosecute.
Hon. Attorney General, Levi Peter, explained that introducing the words ‘criminal conduct’ widens the scope making it easier for prosecutors.
With the current Act, once the activity has been identified as unlawful it can suffice in court therefore strengthening the arms of the Financial Intelligence Unit, FIU.
Meanwhile, Hon. Minister for National Security, Rayburn Blackmoore, stated that the Proceeds of Crime Amendment Act of 2016 empowers customs officers and police to carry out their duties more effectively.
“We are creating an environment wherein persons who have criminal intentions can be dealt with. One should not take lightly the need for these simple but very important amendments,” he said to GIS News.
Hon Blackmoore explained that the Proceeds of Crime Amendment Act of 2016 enhances the Money Laundering Act, which states that a person entering the island must declare any funds in excess of $10,000.
“If you were to make a false declaration, a customs or police officer can [confiscate] that cash and present it to a magistrate.
“The other measure which we took is also very simple but important and strengthens the ability of the police, customs officers and Financial Intelligence Unit. There are predicate offences for examples someone with ‘unlawful’ cash but unless that person is convicted of [this] offence, you cannot charge the person with the underlying money laundering offence. So that person would have had to be convicted first before proceeding to money laundering charges.”
