by Michelle Amba – EM TV News, Port Moresby
Chairman of Task Force Sweep, Sam Koim, says trusts accounts for private law firms can be used as an avenue for money laundering.
Koim was reacting to the current controversy involving two prominent practicing lawyers in PNG.
Koim, who was also featured in the SBS Dateline program, says he was not surprised at what the two lawyers had revealed, however, he was concerned over two prominent lawyers being caught unaware.
Koim said there were instances of money laundering involving lawyers, however, he stopped short of naming names.
He says lawyers’ trust accounts are not scrutinised, something which can be used as instruments or vehicles of money laundering.
Koim says there are systems in place to detect money laundering, however, those practicing have become smart and avoid being caught. The Prime Minister’s Office announced an investigation into the comments made by the two lawyers in the secret video recording.
Yesterday, Greg Sheppherd said the publication by SBS Dateline does not implicate him as being involved in money laundering, and his conversation was recorded without his consent.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=rTXMvinxg34%3Ffeature%3Doembed%26wmode%3Dopaque%26showinfo%3D0%26showsearch%3D0%26rel%3D0
