Botswana’s Financial Crime Investigation Techniques on the Spotlight
As Botswana continues to grapple with financial crime, investigators are employing innovative techniques to uncover and prosecute offenders.
Creating a Subject Profile: The First Step in Any Investigation
A crucial step in any investigation is the creation of a subject profile, which involves collecting and recording basic information about the target. This includes:
- Names
- Dates and places of birth
- Aliases
- Passports
- National identity cards
Gathering and Maintaining Sensitive Financial Data and Evidence Sources
In addition to creating a subject profile, practitioners must also gather and maintain sensitive financial data and other evidence sources, including:
- Documents from government agencies
- Financial institutions
- Law firms
- Real estate agents
- And many others
The use of one technique can often provide leads or information that will become grounds for taking additional measures and creating links to foreign jurisdictions.
The Role of Open-Source Investigations in Financial Crime Investigations
Open-source investigations are also playing a crucial role in Botswana’s financial crime investigations. This involves gathering publicly available information from sources such as:
- Social media
- Internet
- Government agencies
- Private databases
Open-source information is used throughout the investigation, from assessing credibility of allegations to submitting admissible evidence at trial.
Categories of Open-Source Information
Some categories of open-source information include:
- Official public records
- Private commercial or law enforcement databases
- Civil litigation records
- Corporate registrations
- Patent applications
- Social media postings
The use of these techniques has led to several high-profile investigations and convictions in Botswana, highlighting the importance of effective financial crime investigation methods.
The Importance of Effective Financial Crime Investigation Methods
The creation of a subject profile is an essential first step in any financial crime investigation, providing investigators with a comprehensive understanding of the target’s background, associates, and activities. This information can then be used to gather evidence from various sources, including:
- Government agencies
- Financial institutions
- Private databases
In Botswana, open-source investigations have revealed valuable insights into the assets held by targets, their families and associates, and associated businesses. This information has been instrumental in developing leads, identifying domestic or foreign assets, and compiling subject profiles.
Conclusion
Botswana’s financial crime investigators are employing innovative techniques to uncover and prosecute offenders. The creation of subject profiles, collection of financial data, and use of open-source investigations have all played a crucial role in successful investigations. As financial crime continues to evolve, it is essential that investigators remain at the forefront of these methods, ensuring that they can effectively combat this threat to Botswana’s economy and stability.