Press Release No 43 –
The Financial Intelligence Unit Signs Memorandum of Agreement with the Land Transport Authority
Press Release No: 43/2009
Date : 5 October 2009
The Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) has signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) today with the Land Transport Authority (LTA). This is the 6th MOA that the FIU has signed since it was established in 2006. The MOA will strengthen the FIU’s growing network with law enforcement, regulatory and licensing agencies in Fiji.
LTA joins the network that includes the Immigration Department, the Fiji Islands Revenue and Customs Authority, Fiji Police Force, the Fiji Islands Trade and Investment Bureau and the Ministry of Justice.
The MOA will ensure timely exchanges and sharing of intelligence and information between the FIU and the LTA.
Mr. Razim Buksh, Director of the FIU said that the addition of the LTA into the FIU intelligence network would greatly improve the intelligence that the FIU develops, and allow the FIU to conduct more comprehensive profiling of individuals or parties under investigation for serious crimes. Mr Buksh stresses that the strong inter-agency coordination are the key to combating today’s ever-changing criminal environment.
Mr. Etuate Koroi, the Chief Executive Officer of the LTA, was happy with the signing of the MOA saying that MOA would help the LTA to “crack-down” traffic offenders. He adds that with the help of the FIU and other government agencies, the LTA would ensure that traffic offenders would never get away from the law. Mr Koroi said that the LTA is looking forward to working more closely with government agencies such as the FIU.
The Financial Transactions Report Act enables the FIU to enter into such arrangements and agreements with government agencies to detect, investigate and prosecute serious crimes such as money laundering activities in Fiji.