Press Release No 31 –
Police Officers Receive Specialised Training on Investigating Money Laundering
Press Release No: 31/2012
Date: 19 October 2012
25 Police officers will receive specialised training on investigating complex fraud cases such as money laundering. These officers will be also trained on how to identify tainted criminal proceeds that may be linked to criminal activities. The Fiji Police Force and the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) announced that an intensive two-day joint workshop will be held on 23-24 October 2012 at the Novotel Hotel in Nadi. The workshop on “Money laundering and following the proceeds of crime” will be attended by crime officers, crime sergeants and fraud investigators based at various Police Stations from Rakiraki to Sigatoka. Commissioner of Police, Brigadier General Iowane Naivalurua said that the workshop would create more awareness on the offence of money laundering and the legal provisions available to Police officers when tracing, restraining, confiscating and ultimately forfeiting any wealth generated from or linked to criminal activities.
This is the first time the Fiji Police Force and the FIU are organising such a workshop and this will further strengthen the working relationship between the two agencies. The Director of the FIU, Mr Razim Buksh said that the FIU and the Reserve Bank of Fiji are happy to support this training as it will enhance the skill set, knowledge and caliber of law enforcement officers that is needed to investigate complex cases. Mr Buksh said that investigating and prosecuting fraud cases has always been a challenge for the relevant authorities in Fiji. A number of fraud, money laundering and proceeds of crime cases have been recently successfully investigated and prosecuted as a result of initial intelligence and assistance provided by the FIU.
Tracing proceeds of crime and ultimately depriving the criminals from enjoying the criminal wealth is one of the key objectives of Fiji’s anti- money laundering framework. The workshop will be officially opened by the Commissioner of Police. The key facilitator for this specialised training is Madam Nazhat Shameem and other facilitators include Senior Police Officers from the Police Anti-Money Laundering Unit and the FIU.