National
Intel unit to keep tabs on money laundering
The government is set to create an intelligence unit under the Department of Money Laundering Investigation to probe suspects in money laundering and terrorist financing cases.The government is set to create an intelligence unit under the Department of Money Laundering Investigation to probe suspects in money laundering and terrorist financing cases.
This is another step towards strengthening the institution after first bringing it under the Prime Minister’s Office from the Finance Ministry, officials said. On February 23, the government brought the DoMLI under the PMO by amending the Nepal Government Business Rules.
The PMO said such unit could be developed as a capable institution to carry out investigation. Currently, it has been taking much support from Nepal Police and other agencies for probe.
“The PMO has recommended creating an intelligence unit under the DoMLI while conducting an organisation and management survey,” said PMO Secretary Kedar Bahadur Adhikari. “The Cabinet should endorse the recommendation.”
The department is an important institution to control financial crimes as it can control illegal financial flows even from the private sector, unlike the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority which is constitutionally authorised to look into public sector institutions only.
Questions are being asked about effectiveness of the investigation after notorious “dons” including Parshuram Basnet, Rajeev Gurung aka Deepak Manange and Milan Gurung aka Chakre Milan were acquitted of money laundering charges by the Special Court over the last eight months.
“Measures such as keeping the department under the PMO and setting up an intelligence unit could make the department stronger and investigation more effective,” said Binod Lamichhane, information officer at the DoMLI. He said the need for such department was realised long ago to match the international practice.
Once the Cabinet endorses the suggestion, the department plans to recruit staffers involved in intelligence gathering. “Most of them may come from the National Investigation Department,” said Lamichhane. The PMO has proposed seven to eight staffers at the unit.