Timor-Leste Confronts Money Laundering Schemes

Dili, October 26, 2022 - The Asia Pacific Anti-Money Laundering Group (APG) recently conducted a workshop for staff of the National Commission on Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing (NCMLTF), aimed at strengthening Timor-Leste’s efforts to combat organized crime.

Strengthening Efforts Against Organized Crime

The workshop was designed to prepare an adequate response to the specificities of organized crime. The Minister of Justice, Tiago Sarmento Amaral, emphasized the country’s commitment to preventing and combating money laundering and terrorism financing. “We have laws and institutions in place to prevent these crimes, but we know that they exist everywhere,” he said.

Enhancing Collaboration and Information Sharing

The workshop included a questionnaire session where participants shared their opinions on measures to combat the issue. Maria José Sarmento, Executive Director of the Financial Information Unit of the Central Bank of Timor-Leste, highlighted the importance of the seminar in helping NCMLTF prepare a report with concrete measures and policies to be presented to law enforcement authorities in 2024.

Upcoming Questionnaire

A more extensive questionnaire will be issued between March and April 2023, comprising around 500 questions, to assess Timor-Leste’s level of compliance in combating money laundering and terrorism financing. The questionnaire will compare the country’s situation with international standards set by organizations involved in preventing and combating these crimes.

Verifying Compliance

NCMLTF Secretary Nelinho Vital emphasized that by March 2023, Timor-Leste must evaluate its internal actions against organized crime, and APG Secretariat will visit the country to verify the detected situation. A report on the mechanisms adopted for combating organized crime is expected to be presented in September 2024.

Membership in APG

Timor-Leste became a member of APG in July 2008 and is now part of the organization’s network of over 40 countries. Money laundering refers to the process of disguising proceeds from criminal activity to conceal their illicit origins, while terrorist financing involves raising funds with the intention of supporting terrorist acts or organizations.

About NCMLTF

The National Commission on Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing (NCMLTF) comprises representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Finance, Central Bank of Timor-Leste, Human Rights and Justice Ombudsman, Anti-Corruption Commission, Public Service Commission, and National Police of Timor-Leste.

Journalist: Camilio de Sousa Editor: Nelia Borges