7 News Belize

Was There An FIU Investigation Into The Immigration Scandal?
posted (June 30, 2015)
One more inquiry which the press took the opportunity to ask of the FIU Director was a supposed investigation into the immigration scandals. Yes, they've become ghosts… remembered now and again by the politicians from the Opposition Party who remind that a great wrong was committed against national patrimony 18 months or so ago. So, we thought we'd ask the new director for an update on it.

He told us that he had no information to share on it at that moment:

Eric Eusey - Director, FIU
"I am not aware of that investigation, it may have come as a request probably from the Auditor General but I am not aware that that investigation was ongoing."

Daniel Ortiz
"So then sir, this whole immigration scandal which there was a private constitution attempt that failed. An appeal of that private prosecution that failed. DPP office said it cannot get involved unless there are certain things done by the police, then the Ministry of the National Security says that the police are the ones involved with it. But there seems to be no movement with it all together and now you're saying that the FIU is not aware of the case. Does that mean that it has been left on the way side?"

Eric Eusey - Director, FIU
"No, since it has been raised I can look into that and see but as far as I know, it's not an FIU case per say. It's not a case normally, certain evidence or information will have to come to the FIU for them to act, and since I became director I have not seen that evidence come forward. Perhaps that's the reason why the DPP is reluctant to move. In a case like that, you have to have evidence that the court will believe and accept. If you cannot have the evidence, what you will have is rumours, conjectures, finger pointing and things of that sort. Before you proceed to court you have to have firm evidence."

Reporter
"Is it that the FIU was at no point involve in an investigation regarding the immigration department? Is that what you're saying?"

Eric Eusey - Director, FIU
"No, I am not saying that. There could well have been an investigation but you have to understand that when I took over as director, the issue with Belize standing was at the highest importance and we had to address that. So most of the effort of the FIU was done in that regards."

He was of course referring to the efforts made to make Belize's Banking Sector transparent and compliant with regulations of the international community.

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