In a report to the Treasury Minister recommending the Island assist Pakistani authorities in investigating corruption, the Island’s most senior law officer, Attorney General William Bailhache, says intelligence suggests that embezzled funds are hidden in Jersey.
Investigators from the Islamic Republic of Pakistan recently applied to Mr Bailhache for assistance – but the country had to be designated under the Proceeds of Crime (Jersey) Law 1999 before he could do so.
Senator Terry Le Sueur has now designated Pakistan under the law so that external confiscation orders made in Pakistan can be effected and Jersey courts can seize assets while their investigations are carried out.
The comments to the report state: ‘The Attorney General recommends that Pakistan is included as a designated territory.
Intelligence indicates that substantial assets have been hidden in Jersey arising out of corruption in Pakistan.
‘He considers it embarrassing that the Government of Pakistan is left to take civil process in these cases and that the Jersey authorities are unable to lend their weight to assist.
‘The designated territory approach operates as a form of jurisdiction approval, and it follows therefore if a country is not designated, Jersey is in effect saying that such territory or country is not considered worthy to assist.’
