Fiji MOJ Signs Data-Sharing MOU With FIU.

Ministry of Justice signs MOU with Financial Intelligence Unit

It was a significant occasion this morning (03.07.08) when the Ministry of Justice finally signed a Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) Agreement with Fiji's Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) which is based at the Reserve Bank of Fiji.

Permanent Secretary for Justice, Electoral Reform, Public Enterprises and Anti-Corruption Pio Tikoduadua said he is very pleased to sign the Agreement with FIU today after reviewing the Terms of Reference.

The FIU, which is primarily responsible for money laundering and terrorism will now with the help of the shared confidential information from the Ministry of Justice be more capable of combating complex crimes of money-laundering and terrorism.

"The information we are sharing with FIU is to be maintained and not classified information for the Births, Deaths, Marriages Office, Registrar of Titles, Companies and the Stamp Duties Office" , Mr Tikoduadua said.

The PS Justice conveyed that the Ministry of Justice has agreed to the terms and conditions in the Agreement and will maintain that.

Meanwhile, Director of FIU, Mr Razim Buksh has stated that all information shared with the Intelligence Unit is held at the height of confidentiality as embedded in the Financial Intelligence Act.

The Reserve Bank of Fiji says the agreement will allow exchange and sharing of intelligence and information between the FIU and the Ministry of Justice subject to strict confidentiality and protection of information requirements.

Under this, the FIU will have secure on-line access to information stored within the databases of the following Registries: -

1. Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages
2. Registrar of Titles
3. Administrator General
4. Official Receiver
5. Registrar of Companies, Patents, Designs & Trade Marks
6. Commissioner of Stamp Duties

Similar Agreements were signed by the FIU with the Immigration Department, the Fiji Islands Revenue and Customs Authority, Fiji Police Force and the Fiji Islands Trade and
Investment Bureau.

The Financial Transactions Report Act enables the FIU to enter into such arrangements and agreements with Government agencies for information exchange to strengthen the framework to detect, investigate and prosecute money laundering, tax evasion and other serious criminal activities in Fiji.

ENDS

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