KINGSTON: The police were still basking in the success of a forfeiture application under the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) which resulted in the State keeping the equivalent of over $60 million seized from two foreigners.
According to the Financial Investigation Division (FID), the decision was handed down by the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate’s Court on November 18 and stemmed from an operation that was carried out in 2014.
Reports from the police are that on April 7, 2014 FID officers were conducting a vehicular checkpoint operation in the Corporate Area when a JUTA taxi was stopped and searched. The search yielded over US$500,000 and J$1.3 million in the possession of two passengers — Roshen Daniels and Murvin Reingoud, both Suriname nationals who had arrived in Jamaica on April 2, 2014.
The men were taken into custody after failing to explain how they had that much money in their possession. They stated that they were merely acting on the instructions of a person whose identity they could not disclose. The men argued that they had been directed to collect the cash from a local hotel and await instructions as to where to deliver it.
An investigation by FID, assisted by Jamaica Customs, the Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency, and the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) was undertaken to ascertain the origins of the money. The two men were charged with money laundering under the POCA and placed before the Half-Way-Tree Resident Magistrate’s Court.
However, the charges were withdrawn and the men released. They immediately left Jamaica and returned to Suriname. The FID then made an application under the Cash Seizure provision of POCA and the matter was transferred to the Half-Way-Tree Resident Magistrate’s Court where the men were represented by Jamaican attorney Patrick Bailey.
Yesterday, the FID said the case was still ongoing as criminal charges have been laid against a Jamaican after he allegedly approached a police officer and attempted to pervert the course of justice.
“This case is an excellent example of leveraging on the specialised tools provided by POCA to disrupt criminal activities as well as a sustained co-ordinated approach between agencies,” a police release quoted Robin Sykes, chief technical director of the FID.
“We therefore offer our thanks to the Narcotics Division of the JCF and Jamaica Customs for their co-operation and support in this matter.”
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