Parliament Mandates FCC-Police Cooperation in Fraud Probes

The Parliament has passed the Financial Crimes Commission (Amendment) Bill, presented by Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam. The vote took place yesterday during the third reading, and the session was adjourned until Tuesday, July 22, at 11:30 a.m.

This new law amends the 2023 legislation establishing the Financial Crimes Commission (FCC).

The key change gives the FCC and police the authority to conduct joint investigations into financial crimes.

The main goal is to improve cooperation between these two agencies, which are responsible for fighting economic crimes such as money laundering, corruption, and fraud.

Previously, the FCC conducted investigations independently, which sometimes caused delays or overlaps when cases involved multiple jurisdictions or entities.

Parliament: Article 58A

The amendment presented in Parliament introduces a new section, Article 58A, allowing the police to initiate investigations into financial crimes that fall under the 2023 law, provided they are not already handled by the FCC.

The police must notify the FCC when they start such an investigation.

Additionally, if the FCC requests, the police can conduct joint investigations.

Conversely, if police discover that an ongoing case relates to an issue already under investigation by the FCC, they can formally request collaboration.

This law is creating a legal framework for the FCC and police to work together on investigations, ensuring better coordination and more effective enforcement of financial crime laws.

Source: l’Express