DOHA: The new dimensions of the financial crime all over the world have forced the Ministry of Interior to intensify in efforts to combat the crime in its different forms and manifestations, a seminar here was told.
Addressing the seminar titled "Efforts of Qatar in combating money laundering and financial terrorism", held on Monday, Captain Ali Hassan Al Kubaisi, head of the financial crimes section at the Criminal Investigation Department, said, "Financial crimes have entered new dimensions in the recent days at international level. This has pushed the interior ministry to form a section to fight against financial crimes, a separate branch for combating electronic crimes, another branch for combating forgery and counterfeiting and a branch for combating money laundering."
He said all these sections were aimed at stopping the misuse of customers' accounts in the banks, preventing fraud operations among the public and companies and combating threats against financial security.
The section has the latest equipment and highly-qualified staff and the CID coordinates with Qtel for detecting the crimes. There is also exchange of visits and expertise with developed countries and close coordination with international authorities for combating crimes, he added.
The seminar was organised by the Ahmed Bin Mohammed Military College at its premises.
Staff Brigadier Hamad bin Ahmed Al Nuaimi, Commander of the college, chaired the seminar. Brigadier Abdullah Salim Al Ali, Director General of General Directorate of Borders, Passports and Expatriates Affairs and vice chairman of the National Committee for Combating Money Laundering and Financing Terrorism, Sheikh Ahmed bin Eid Al Thani, Head of financial information unit and Captain Ali Hasan Al Kubaisi, of the ministry presented papers in the seminar.
Sheikh Ahmed bin Eid Al Thani said: "Money laundering and financing terrorism are among the most dangerous financial crimes which have negative impacts on the society. For this reason, Qatar has drafted many rules and legislations to fight this crime to keep all institutions of the country far from this evil".
Brigadier Abdullah Salim Al Ali said, "The modern technology and information systems have played a great role in spreading the phenomenon of money laundering. The globalization of the financial services and world free trade system has also eased the process of sending a huge amount of money through electronic transfers. This has helped many people to commit the organized crimes."
© The Peninsula 2009
