Luanda - The deputy Attorney General, Innocência Pinto, on Tuesday in Luanda stressed the need for national magistrates to improve knowledge to combat money laundering and related crimes, in view of Angola's return to the “gray list” of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
Angola was recently placed on the FATF's “gray list” of countries under scrutiny for having strategic deficiencies in standards for combating money laundering, terrorist financing and the financing of arms proliferation.
The magistrate, who was speaking at the opening ceremony of the latest cycle of training on Money Laundering and Related Crimes - 2024, said the situation must be treated with the seriousness it requires.
According to the official, in order to face these challenges a robust system to prevent and tackle money laundering and organized crime in needed, in a joint effort by the various institutions, as well as strengthened technical capacities in the different areas of action.
This situation, the magistrate said, could jeopardize the country's image and drive away investors, which would have a negative impact on the economic and social development that is so much sought by the country.
Innocência Pinto stressed that ill-gotten funds undermine institutions and hinders social progress, as they are no longer used for investments to promote the development of fundamental areas such as health, education and infrastructure.
“Of the various shortcomings pointed out by the FATF, 17 remain to be fulfilled and we are going to try to resolve them so that in a short space of time we can get off the grey list,” the magistrate said.
The magistrate highlighted the need to increase the number of magistrates and court technicians, as well as to continuously train them to deal with the current situation.
“We need training in combating money laundering and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, as well as terrorist financing,” she stressed.
The representative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) IN Angola, Manuela Carneiro, on her turn said the country is working with the FATF and is committed to resolve the strategic problems within an agreed timeframe and subject to increased monitoring.
The UN official said that money laundering and organized crime are global challenges and are related to serious illicit activities, from drug trafficking to human exploitation and corruption, all of which have an impact on security, development and the well-being of societies.
The training project began in April 2021 and marks the end of a cycle of more than 40 training activities on money laundering, parallel financial investigations and asset confiscation, benefiting around 1,500 participants from all of Angola's provinces.
The meeting aims to deepen knowledge of the dynamics of money laundering, improve prevention techniques and facilitate collaboration between the country's criminal justice institutions, as well as serving as a sign of the commitment of Angolan institutions to align their practices with the FATF's recommendations. FMA/VIC/TED/AMP
