CWAG AAP in collaboration with the office of the Attorney General and the Department of Justice – Kenya organized a two day workshop on Anti Money Laundering and Asset Recovery on the 4th– 5th February 2019, Radisson Blu Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya. The two-day workshop brought together over 40 participants from the office of the Attorney General, Office of the Director of Public Prosecution, The Judiciary, The National Police Service, Financial Reporting Centre, The Central Bank of Kenya among other multiagency task force.
The workshop was officially opened by Ms. Muthoni Kimani, Director of Asset Recovery Agency, on behalf of the Attorney General of Kenya, Hon Paul Kariuki. In her opening remarks, she thanked CWAG AAP for providing technical and financial support to the much needed training which would contribute and expand expertise for law enforcement agencies.
“Combating money laundering and terrorist financing is the most important global agenda for all states which operate within the global financial system. Cohesive and collaborative approach in this fight is one of the tools to counter this criminal syndicate.”
In his opening remarks during the two-day workshop, CWAG AAP Board Member Mr. Markus Green ESQ thanked the Attorney Generals office and the Department of Justice for their support and collaboration. He implored participants to actively participate and ask questions during the workshop to ensure adequate idea and information sharing.
“Money laundering is at the very root of transnational crimes and binds all crimes together. To stop and prevent them, you have to follow, trap and trace money, take away liberty, and take away proceeds from crime.”
Hon. Joe Abang– CWAG AAP Goodwill Ambassador – Attorney General, Cross River State, Nigeria in his keynote address urged the participants to fully participate in the training sessions so as to achieve the aims for which the workshop was organized. He noted that money laundering has become endemic in Nigeria and it has stifled economic growth and stalled default foreign direct investments. He thanked CWAG AAP for bringing people together for such an important course and wished participants a successful two days.
Liz Barrick– Deputy Director, Transaction Record Analysis Centre (TRAC) gave a thought provoking discussion on Money laundering Law and Methods, money laundering phases and also gave an insightful presentation on Economic and social consequences of money Laundering at the macro level.
“Similar to the South West Border of the United States, cross-border points in Kenya are porous and perhaps not adequately manned, making the movement of cash or illicit cargo relatively easy to experienced smugglers.”
Paula Alleman– Chief Counsel, Arizona Attorney General’s Office of Drugs and Racketeering Enforcement Section in her presentation on the Proceeds of Crime and Anti Money Laundering (POCAMLA) and Arizona Law mentioned that Law enforcement is the principal objective of forfeiture and that Potential revenue must not be allowed to jeopardize the effective investigation and prosecution of criminal offenses, officer safety, the integrity of ongoing investigations, or the due process rights of citizens. She shared insights from an Asset Recovery Case Study from Arizona.
“September 2014 – During analysis of Western Union wire transfers, an Asian female from Arizona was identified sending large amounts of money to Shenyang, China. CTR and other bank documents reported structuring and inbound wires from China. From 6/11/2009 to 6/9/2014 over $700,000 passed through the suspect’s accounts. Employment declared to banks by suspect was listed as: Unemployed, Chinese restaurant worker, massage parlor owner and waitress.”
Mr James Manyonge, Corporation Secretary and Head of Legal, Compliance and External Relations at Financial Reporting Centre (FRC) facilitated an informative session on the Scale of Money Laundering in East Africa/Kenya and continued to discuss the link between Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing stating that both thrive in anonymity anonymous transaction. In his presentation, he noted that over 50 cases in Kenya had been taken to court since inception, and the amount of money involved was about Shs. 32 Billion
“corruption leads to increased criminal activity such as terrorism.”
