Mckelson Ferrol, the Director of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), has applauded the government of Dominica for the amendments to the Money Laundering Prevention Act chapter 73:03, which led to the first money laundering conviction in Dominica’s courts.
To classify money laundering as a hybrid offense, in August of 2022, the government modified the said act, following which, money laundering cases could be tried either at the magistrate’s court or at the High Court.
Six months thereafter, the FIU has successfully secured its first money laundering conviction at the magistrate’s court, against a Venezuelan man.
“The Financial Intelligence Unit conducted an investigation into the seizure of Euro162,000.00 from one Edwin Daniel Reyes Garcia of Venezuela,” Ferrol reported. “He was intercepted by officers of the Anti-Crime Task Force at D&D guesthouse located in Marigot on July 4, 2021.”
Following the interception, the FIU started looking into the cash’s provenance, and based on their findings, they considered a civil forfeiture and money laundering investigation.
“After consultation with the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) and the state attorneys within the chambers of the Attorney General, an application for forfeiture was filed against the euro 162,000.00 and three charges of money laundering were instituted against Edwin Daniel Reyes Garcia pursuant to the Money Laundering Prevention Act, chapter 73:03, all of which were indictable charged,” Ferrol disclosed.
However, as a result of the amendment of the Money Laundering Prevention Act 73:03, namely, the Money Laundering Prevention Act Three of 2022, which made money laundering a hybrid offense, two new charges for money laundering, were filed at the magistrate’s court against the defendant, on February 7, 2023, and the indictable charges were withdrawn by the DPP, Sherma Dalrymple.
On March 13, 2023, before Chief Magistrate Candia Carrette George, Garcia requested that the matter be heard at the magistrate’s court, and subsequently pled guilty to one count of money laundering for having in his possession, the sum of Euro162,000.00, that is, the proceeds of crime, knowing or believing the same to be proceeds of crime.
The matter was prosecuted by the DPP who withdrew one of the charges, concealment. The defendant was represented by Attorney-at-Law Wayne Norde.
In handing down her sentence, the Chief Magistrate sentenced Garcia to two years in jail for possession of proceeds of crime. However, he was credited for his time spent on remand and the custodial sentence was considered as time served.
She also ordered that Euro 162,000.00 be confiscated and paid into the State Asset Forfeiture Funds under the Money Laundering Act.
Magistrate Carrette-George further granted the application by the prosecution deeming the Venezuelan man a prohibited Immigrant under the Immigration and Passport Act and ordered his removal from the country under proper escort.
“On March 13, 2023, the forfeited sum was deposited into the asset forfeiture fund. The defendant is presently in custody, pending his removal from the state,” Ferrol disclosed.
He continued, “this piece of amendment has equipped the FIU and other law enforcement authorities in Dominica, with the necessary tools to investigate and prosecute persons involved in money laundering in the Commonwealth of Dominica and have these matters dealt with at the magistrate’s court.”
The FIU Director is of the view that the amendment demonstrates the country’s ability and efforts to fight money laundering and other financial crimes and “provides the avenue to confiscate the instrumentalities of crime and afford the avenue for greater coordination and collaboration among domestic law enforcement agencies in the Commonwealth of Dominica.”
He urged law enforcement authorities in Dominica to approach the court with comprehensive case files and well-investigated matters at the summary level, particularly in money laundering, the associated predicate offenses and other financial crimes.
first conviction
hip hip hooray!
somebody better give this person a lollipop for their outstanding work against corruption in Dominica.
Who is he anyway?
Is he working for someone?
De court and de prosecutor don’t seem to care.
And we expect de world to give Skerrit a trophy for fighting corruption and money laundering, right???
maybe if we had exposed who de guy was moving de money for a few people in Dominica would go cold for a couple weeks eh!!!!
People like this don’t just end up in Dominica as a nobody with all dat cash!
Skerrit is running a nation of fools!!!!!!
If some Dominicans would actually use de grey matter in their thick skulls …………all of sudden Skerrit would be seen as a paper tiger………no teeth no bite………dat coward
Why does DNO continue to post all of these lies from this donkey call IBO
The man is just jealous of the PM
I think he needs to be ban from DNO
If there is a hurricane earthquake fire rape
What ever he has to bring in the PM
Come on DNO do something about it
Jealous??
Who would be jealous of Skerrit?
Does Skerrit have ethics?
Is he an honest leader?
Is he a transparent leader?
Who are his friends?
Are many of his friends criminals?
Are you a cokehead?
You certainly sound shameless to me.
Preacher when Roosevelt stop telling lies I will stop telling the truth about him. The truth may be an offence but not a sin.
Lastly, your animus for me is misplaced. Direct that anger to Roosevelt for: the starvation wages and salaries; depriving the treasury of $64K every month; the brutality meted out to unarmed civilians by the militia; promoting Melissa to Minister of Housing when she can’t even get a certificate to become a dog catcher. Be livid about those.
I don’t believe that any one is jealous of Roosevelt Skerrit. No one. So you preacher go preach to Skerrit. Abbot and Castello
Good job! But Mr M Ferrol have you read this? If so what is the FIU doing about it?
https://nypost.com/2023/03/15/trump-media-probed-by-feds-for-possible-money-laundering-report/amp/
Now when is the investigation going to start in the million dollars deposite at the bank, the suspect movement of West indies cricket funds through gas stations, the helicopter landing in non traditional ports with material exchange, civilians building mansions on a fixed known salary with mortgages and rent more than thier salary. Ferrol you are nothing but a joke. A huge department set up over 10 years and only one conviction. Sounds like a waste of resources and seemed set up to pretend this gov is serious about financial crimes.
The same players that are deeply involved in money laundering and lowered the bars to facilitate money laundering are now being praised by one of their gangsters for making it possible to catch money launderers.
Nough said now so let me ask Mr Ferrol two simple questions I know he can answer.
1. Mr Ferrol wasn’t Alireza Monfared was known to be wanted in Iran for money laundering? Who brought him to Dominica and who was he engaged with in his distribution of dirty money in Dominica?
2. Mr Ferrol,, you are from Paix Bouche more specifically Moore Park. So what do you know about the laundered money that took place in a Teteplat guess house? Do you know any of the players involved? Can you tell us if any of the players hold a top position on island? Also, can you tell us if any of the players is from the Moore Park area? Gason all you not easy nou
McKesson Ferrol what about the case against your village boys who stashed more than half a million US$ in Terre Plattt your neighborhood. Tell us what is the status of this case. Come clean
And yes Ferrol when you answer G Walls, please tell us on whose name was the vehicle registered (the one they found at Terre Plat when they found the half a million UD$)?
If you guys are doing your jobs without political interference you all would have already apprehended the individual and associated parties of the 500,000USD in Tete Plate. You all selective justice will one day come back to hunt you guys. Remember God is not one of you He sees every thing. How do you guys sleep at night. You kids might be the ones paying for you actions today. Take Note
Nothing to applaud you all (i.e the FIU) about. After all, i have been hearing about Dominica has an FIU unit for so long.What have you all been doing? Hibernating? Are you all selecting who to investigate and charge.? What about the money found in the north, Terre Plat. It’s alleged that two guys were in the house? What about that case? We all are hearing of many others which fit the definition of money laundering, involving people with jacket and tie.Are you all afraid of jackets? Are you all afraid of ties?
This FIU is almost useless, because like everything else in Dominica, it seem to be conveniently blind and death.
I give you all an “F”…Waste of time!! LAZIES! FAILURES!
The FIU has stubbornly refused to investigate Roosevelt and members of his mob for their millions in assets that they did not legitimately accumulate from their salaries as civil servants.
How could Roosevelt become the wealthiest ruler in the English speaking Caribbean when Dominica is one of the most indebted countries in the world? Only by CORRUPTION could he achieve this feat. But the FIU turns a blind eye to this dumbfoundment.
If the FIU did its job without fear or favour, many in the present cabal would be behind bars instead of perching in ivory towers.
IBO, When you digging your hole for PM Skerrit, be sure to dig one big enough for you and your so-called useless workers incompetent party as well, you guys used to say
” Karma is coming soon ” see what happens Mr Skerrit, turns it back onto you all without lifting a finger, go on boy keep singing your soul out the answer is blowing in the wind.
Skerrit is digging his own hole…He does that in secret as well.