India suggests 9-point agenda to G-20 for action against fugitive economic offences

Speed Post News Network

New Delhi : India on November 30, 2018, suggested 9-point agenda to G-20 for action against fugitive economic offences and asset recovery. They include strong and active cooperation across G-20 countries to deal comprehensively and efficiently with the fugitive economic offenders and cooperation in the legal processes such as effective freezing of the proceeds of crime, early return of the offenders and efficient repatriation of the proceeds of crime should be enhanced and streamlined.

India has suggested joint effort by G-20 countries to form a mechanism that denies entry and safe havens to all fugitive economic offenders. Principles of United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime (UNOTC), especially related to “International Cooperation” should be fully and effectively implemented, according to the 9-Point Agenda suggested by India.

Financial Action Task Force (FATF) should be called upon to assign priority and focus to establishing international co-operation that leads to timely and comprehensive exchange of information between the competent authorities and Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs). FATF should be tasked to formulate a standard definition of fugitive economic offenders and FATF should also develop a set of commonly agreed and standardized procedures related to identification, extradition and judicial proceedings for dealing with fugitive economic offenders to provide guidance and assistance to G-20 countries, subject to their domestic law.

Common platform should be set up for sharing experiences and best practices including successful cases of extradition, gaps in existing systems of extradition and legal assistance, etc, the 9-point agenda said. G-20 Forum should consider initiating work on locating properties of economic offenders who have a tax debt in the country of their residence for its recovery, it said, according to a PIB release.