Tackling money launderers head on

Dubai: The Dubai Attorney General has stressed that curtailing money laundering in Dubai and in the UAE is a top priority for the local authorities.

"Combating money laundering crime and money launderers tops our priorities... we take swift action and speed up litigation process in money laundering crimes. We also cooperate with local and international authorities when we investigate such crimes before we charge the suspects and refer them to Dubai courts to be prosecuted," Dubai's Attorney General, Eisam Eisa Al Humaidan said in a media statement yesterday.

His statement came on the heels of the referral of a Dutch suspect, A.K., to Dubai Court of Misdemeanours where he will be prosecuted for laundering Dh60 million. A Jordanian female, M.A., has also been charged with aiding and abetting A.K. and she will also be prosecuted before the same court this week.

According to Chief Public Prosecutor Sami Al Shamsi and his assistants Shu'aib Ali Ahli and Khalfan Al Mirfi, whoconducted the interrogation, the incident happened when an informant alerted the CID that A.K. was involved in an global drug ring and money laundering crimes in European countries. The media statement said: "The international gang was expected to take cocaine from South Korea to Holland and they used their fruit trade business to cover up their alleged crimes... the CID discovered that A.K. runs two companies in Dubai and is reportedly linked to the case.

"After his arrest, A.K. confessed to laundering money which he collected from Asian men. He claimed he deposited the amounts in different accounts in local banks before transferring them to others for commission. A.K. also claimed that M.A., who used to be a bank employee, aided him... but she denied his accusations," added the statement.

A.K. confessed to laundering money collected from Asian men. He claimed he deposited the amounts in different accounts in local banks."