VZCZCXYZ0010
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHGE #1313 3492005
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 152005Z DEC 05
FM AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2880
INFO RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 0875
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 0157
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0077
RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHINGTON DC
RUEABND/DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMIN HQ WASHINGTON DC
RUEABND/DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMIN SAN JUAN PR
RUEABND/DEA MIAMI FL
RUEAORD/CUSTOMS CARIBBEAN ATTACHE MIAMI FL

C O N F I D E N T I A L GEORGETOWN 001313 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
CARACAS FOR LEGATT, 
PORT OF SPAIN ALSO FOR DEA AND LEGATT, 
JUSTICE FOR OPDAT - RLIPMAN, 
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/15/2015 
TAGS: SNAR EFIN PGOV KCRM GY
SUBJECT: GLIMMER OF HOPE IN GUYANA'S ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING 
FIGHT 
 
REF: A. GEORGETOWN 323 
     ¶B. GEORGETOWN 370 
 
Classified By: Political Officer Benjamin Canavan 
for reason 1.4(b) 
 
¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Guyana's Director of Public Prosecutions met 
with PolOff on December 13 and indicated that she is 
preparing what would be a watershed money laundering case. 
Two suspects implicated in a 2004 UK drug bust received wire 
transfers in Guyana in 2002 totaling almost USD 300,000 and 
exchanged that money into Guyanese currency. END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2. (C) On December 13, PolOff met with Acting Director of 
Public Prosecutions (DPP) Shalimar Ali-Hack.  The DPP is an 
independent entity responsible for the prosecution of major 
criminal cases in the High Court and less serious criminal 
offenses in the magistrates' courts.  Ali-Hack has spent her 
entire career in the DPP's office, becoming Acting DPP in 
January 2005.  During the meeting, she mentioned a money 
laundering case that she is prosecuting herself in the hopes 
of winning a landmark first conviction on money laundering 
charges in Guyana. 
 
¶3. (C) The two suspects in the case owned one property and 
rented another in London when British authorities raided them 
in 2004.  The raids revealed the properties to house 
operations making crack cocaine.  UK authorities also found 
approximately USD 70,000 and GBP 70,000 in cash at these 
locations.  The connection to Guyana is that the same two 
suspects received wire transfers of approximately USD 300,000 
in Guyana in 2002.  The suspects then exchanged the USD for 
Guyanese dollars in two tranches at a local currency exchange 
"cambio". 
 
¶4. (C) Ali-Hack wants to prosecute this case using the 
provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention) Act of 2000. 
The consensus view of those trying to combat drug trafficking 
and money laundering in Guyana is that the existing law is 
too weak to effectively try persons suspected of committing 
these crimes.  The head of Guyana's Financial Intelligence 
Unit is currently completing an amendment to the money 
laundering legislation that he hopes to table in parliament 
in 2006.  A successful prosecution by Ali-Hack would be an 
unprecedented event in Guyana where the courts have to date 
failed to punish those responsible for drug trafficking. 
 
¶5. (U) Efforts to indict people on drug trafficking and money 
laundering charges in Guyana are hampered by several 
statutory restrictions.  Only original documents can be 
admitted into evidence.  This precludes everything from 
electronic surveillance to testimony by video link.  No 
witness protection program exists.  Guyanese regulations do 
not allow plea-bargaining or immunity, making it almost 
impossible to convince drug mules to cooperate.  Cases often 
take years to reach trial.  Even before reaching trial stage, 
a Magistrate's Court will hold a preliminary inquiry 
equivalent to a full trial at which witnesses appear and 
evidence is presented.  Only then will the judge commit the 
case to the High Court, where the trial is repeated.  These 
hurdles have prevented many narcotics cases from resulting in 
prosecutions. 
 
¶6. (C) The Director of Public Prosecutions position has been 
vacant since September 2002 when the former DPP was wounded 
in a drive-by shooting.  Advertisements for the position have 
appeared recently in local newspapers.  Ali-Hack intends to 
apply for the permanent position herself.  Other potential 
candidates include Justice of Appeal (and former DPP) Ian 
Chang and Justice William Ramlall.  Justice Chang served on 
the Presidential Commission of Inquiry that exonerated former 
Minister of Home Affairs Ronald Gajraj in March 2005 of 
involvement in extra-judicial killings (see reftels). 
BULLEN