Iraq joins Egmont Group of Financial Intelligence Units

INA - BAGHDAD 

Supreme Judicial Council announced on Wednesday, Iraq joining the Egmont Group of Financial Intelligence Units.

"The efforts made by the competent courts and the Office of Combating Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing resultsed in Iraq winning the membership of the Egmont group concerned with the exchange of information between the financial investigation units for combating money laundering and financing terrorism," included a statement by the Judicial Council, received by the Iraqi News Agency - INA.

The statement added, "The member states voted during the general meeting of Group No. 29 in the United Arab Emirates today, on Iraq's accession, in the presence of the Deputy President of the Baghdad, Karkh Court of Appeal, Judge Dia Jaafar, and the Director General of the Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Office, Nizar Nassir Hussein."
The approval came after the request submitted by Iraq earlier, and as a result, the legislative and operational structure in which the Supreme Judicial Council operates, the Office of Combating Laundering and Financing of Terrorism, and other concerned authorities, was studied, as a field visit was conducted.

"With the accession of the Republic of Iraq, the number of member states has reached 170," according to the statement. 

It is noteworthy that the Egmont Group provides support to member states by enhancing secure communication between financial investigation units, and securing communication via the application of modern technology through the secure Egmont site ESW, which helps in exchanging information with all 170 member states, which helps in the funds of criminals and those under investigation are tracked directly and safely, which provides judges with investigative tools that help in exposing crimes and recovering funds and criminals.