The Government intends to increase its efforts to get the Courts to freeze bank accounts, properties and assets that are linked to persons who may be involved in crime and criminality.
On his “Issues in the News” television programme on Tuesday, Attorney General Anil Nandlall said the Government plans to make applications to the Courts for the forfeiture of assets derived from criminal activity.
He said Magistrates and Judges would have to be cognizant of this new dimension.
“Repeated applications will now be made to the various courts across the judicial spectrum for orders such as freezing orders, freeze bank accounts, detention orders, detain properties as well as forfeiture of orders to confiscate properties that are implicated in or are considered proceeds of crime and criminality,” Mr. Nandlall said.
The Attorney General said Prosecutors are currently being trained to deal with the new reality, as additional legislation is being crafted to achieve the objectives.
“And therefore, those who are charged with the responsibility of interpreting and applying that legislation must necessarily become part of this machinery. This successful combating of crime requires the participation of many organs and agencies,” Mr. Nandlall noted.
The Attorney General also explained that the Guyana Police Force, the Customs Anti Narcotics Unit, the Financial Intelligence Unit and other investigative agencies will have to build their capacities to step up to the challenge.
“So, all of the important players have to be in sync if we are to succeed against a very evolving and sophisticated criminal world because the criminals are investing heavily in technology, in equipment and they are exploiting every new innovation available and unless on the other side of the law, these multiple agencies respond with commensurate sophistication and efficiency, then the criminals will continue to win the battle,” the AG stated.
He said the recently concluded INTERPOL conference in Guyana was timely and presented the right messaging which has propelled a unified approach to crime fighting.
Source: News Source Guyana
