Money laundering cases increase in Fiji

Financial institutions in Fiji are urged on Thursday to report suspicious transactions quickly to ensure money laundering offences are detected after it was found that a case in Fiji was one of the world's largest ever recorded. This as money laundering is just as bad in Fiji as anywhere else in the world. Governor Reserve Bank Barry Whiteside said that prosecution should be stepped up to tackle money laundering offences. But the Director of Public Prosecutions Ayesha Jinasena said there were several challenges and obstacles they faced while handling money laundering cases as they have to balance the rights of the victim with the rights of the accused. Jinasena said prosecution of these cases should be done without any delays. With five successful cases of money laundering prosecuted so far since 2005, the Fiji Intelligence Unit said more can be done to fight such crime. The Fiji Intelligence Unit (FIU) Director Razim Buksh said a collective approach needs to be taken to combat such crimes which were on the increase globally. Buksh revealed that one of the money laundering cases of Fiji which involved 476 U.S. dollars is rated to be World's third largest money laundering cases. This case involved a staff of Turtle Island Resort who along with five others conspired and defrauded the company in 2007. A recent FIU's report said that a total of 629 suspicious transaction reports of money laundering were recorded in Fiji in 2010. Out of the 629 suspicious transaction reports 267 intelligence reports was disseminated to law enforcement agencies for further investigation of possible money laundering. Buksh said that in the last five years, the FIU handled 2,341 suspicious transaction reports, 303,585 cash transaction reports, 714,873 international funds transfer reports and 665 border currency declaration reports. "During this period, the FIU developed and disseminated 839 intelligence case reports to law enforcement agencies and provided investigative assistance for 293 requests," Buksh said.