David West is new PCA head More than a month after the post became vacant, President Anthony Carmona has appointed certified anti-money-laundering specialist attorney David West as director of the Police Complaints Authority (PCA). In a statement yesterday, the President’s information officer Theron Boodan said West would be sworn in at the Office of the President, Circular Road, St Ann’s, at 11 am today. West has previously been a state prosecutor in the office of the Director of Public Prosecution, director designate of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) at the Finance Ministry and head of the Central Authority Unit (CAU) at the Ministry of the Attorney General. He has been at loggerheads with the Government on several issues, including the Section 34 issue, and has publicly criticised the Government’s delays in complying with recommendations made by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) in 2013. At the time West said if T&T did not prosecute anyone involved in white-collar crimes the country could be blacklisted and placed on the list of non co-operative territories. West served as a member of the Cabinet appointed-committee on AML in 2010. In an interview before the announcement, Boodan said the name of the new chairman of the Integrity Commission would be divulged soon. He said interviews had taken place over the past few weeks to find suitable candidates for vacant posts. New PCA head’s CV West has over ten years’ experience in dealing with extradition and mutual legal assistance and assisted in drafting several laws, including the Financial Intelligence Unit Act 2009, Proceeds of Crime (Amendment) Act 2009, the Anti-Terrorism Act 2010 and the Financial Obligations Regulations 2009. He was junior counsel to Andrew Mitchell, QC, who prosecuted the first money laundering case in T&T. West was responsible for drafting the amendment to the Extradition Act 1985 and is recognised internationally for his success in extraditing a number of suspects, the most notable being the “JFK terrorist bombers” and seven people involved in the kidnapping and murder of US citizen “Balo” Maharaj. West was also involved in the extradition of Steve Ferguson and Ishwar Galbaransingh up until August 2010. He has a BSc in economics and law, an LLB (Hons) and is a certified anti-money laundering specialist (CAMS) at El Dorado Chambers. CAMS certification is recognised worldwide by financial institutions and government agencies as an indication of anti-money laundering (AML) expertise. West studied at Brunel University and is a past student of Naparima College. How the PCA head is chosen Under the Police Complaints Authority Act, the director and deputy director are appointed by the President on the joint advice of the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition. If they cannot agree on the joint advice, the President appoints the director and the deputy director after consultation with the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition. guardian.co.tt/news/2014-11-06/david-west-new-pca-head
Posted on: Fri, 07 Nov 2014 12:02:43 +0000
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