Gambia hosts Seminar on Economic and Financial Crimes for Judges

Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA) is to hold its third Seminar on Economic and Financial Crimes for Judges in West African English Speaking Countries in Banjul, The Gambia.

A statement issued and copied to Ghana News Agency in Accra on Tuesday said GIABA, in collaboration with the Commonwealth Secretariat, was organising the regional seminar for judges from Anglophone member States of ECOWAS from June 14-16.

The participants include 21 Court of Appeal and High Court Judges involved in the adjudication of corruption, economic and financial crime cases in Ghana, The Gambia, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone.

It is the fifth in the series of seminars organised by GIABA for Anglophone and Francophone West African Judges.

The seminar is targeted at judicial officers who are adjudicating, or are likely to adjudicate on cases involving financial crime or other forms of trans-national organised crimes.

It is aimed at providing a forum for the judges to discuss and share experience, as well as enhance their understanding of current international developments in economic and financial crimes, particularly money laundering and terrorist financing (ML/TF).

In addition, the seminar would sensitise the judges on their role in adjudicating ML/TF matters in their respective countries as well as provide an opportunity for them to learn from, and network with their counterparts from other countries.

The statement said in line with its mandate to facilitate the implementation of measures against money laundering and terrorist financing in accordance with acceptable international standards, GIABA functions as a forum for member States to discuss matters of regional interest and share experiences.

GIABA, in collaboration with its development partners, organises seminars for judges, prosecutors, and law enforcement officers in West Africa.

This is to keep them abreast with typologies of organised crime, particularly, money laundering and terrorist financing.

GNA