Senate passes Sharing of Forfeited Property Order Resolution

The Senate on Friday passed the Sharing of Forfeited Property Order Resolution which allows law enforcers to seize the properties of individuals they suspect of  wrongdoing.

Pearnel Charles Jr, State Minister for National Security, outlined that the resolution is important to Jamaica and the Unites States as "it will improve the effectiveness of law enforcement in both countries in the investigation, prosecution and suppression of crime."

This, he said, would be done through "tracing, freezing the seizure, forfeiture or confiscation of assets earned by way of criminal activities."

The resolution will also strengthen the framework for the sharing of proceeds from the disposition of such assets, he outlined.
  
But one member of the Upper House has called a section of the law unfair and too subjective.
  
Opposition Senator K.D. Knight has taken issue with the civil forfeiture aspect of the law.
  
Senator Knight argued that sometimes the forfeiture poses a challenge to those whose money is taken away. He suggested procedural changes to take into consideration what should happen within a certain period after the confiscation of assets.