Court Orders Forfeiture of $46,000 in Internet Banking Fraud Case

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A Suva High Court judge has ordered the forfeiture of $46,000 after finding that Sachin Deo failed to satisfy the court on the ownership and acquisition of the money. This decision comes as part of a criminal matter related to predicate offenses.

Background of the Case

In 2012, Natasha Nilma Singh, then 20 years old, got into an online romantic relationship with Steven Ham, whom she had never met in person. Ham promised Singh’s mother that he would marry her and they would settle in the United States. He sent $72,128.74 to Singh’s bank account, claiming it was for the purchase of a house in Fiji.

However, investigations revealed that the funds were transferred from Australia to Fiji through internet banking fraud. Singh used her mother’s bank account to withdraw and transfer funds to beneficiaries in South Africa upon instructions from Ham. She also claimed she was blackmailed by Ham, saying the funds were for his son’s treatment in South Africa.

Conviction and Sentence

Singh was convicted of one count of “Possession of Property suspected of being proceeds of crime” and sentenced to 8 months imprisonment suspended for 2 years.

Challenges in Fighting Financial Crimes

The Fiji Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) faces challenges in keeping up with the evolving domestic and global crime landscape. Criminals are becoming more sophisticated, using technology to carry out their crimes. The FIU is under increasing demand from law enforcement agencies for intelligence, which can be difficult to provide given its multiple functions and limited resources.

Prosecutorial Challenges

Prosecutors also face challenges in proving serious offenses when they have not been orchestrated in Fiji. Additionally, there is a need to build capacity and technical knowledge across agencies to combat the changing criminal environment.

Conclusion

In this case, the court’s decision highlights the importance of building partnerships with foreign FIUs and law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute transnational crimes.

Source: Fiji Financial Intelligence Unit