News (Media Awareness Project) - CN BC: Legislation Takes Aim At Criminal Assets |
Title: | CN BC: Legislation Takes Aim At Criminal Assets |
Published On: | 2005-03-13 |
Source: | Quesnel Cariboo Observer (CN BC) |
Fetched On: | 2008-01-16 20:57:08 |
LEGISLATION TAKES AIM AT CRIMINAL ASSETS
B.C.'s Solicitor General Rich Coleman announced plans Tuesday to fight
organized crime, introducing legislation that takes aim at the financial
assets of criminals.
"As part of our overall strategy to fight crime and enhance public safety,
we need to go after assets acquired through criminal activity," said
Coleman in a press release. "The Civil Forfeiture Act will put the onus on
people involved in unlawful activity to prove that their house, car, or
other property was bought with money not connected to criminal activity."
Under the new act, the government can apply to the court to seize
ill-gotten assets of crime through the civil law process. The recovered
assets can be used for crime prevention programs, law enforcement
initiatives or to compensate victims.
A judge can order forfeiture when a person has engaged in unlawful activity
that has resulted in profit or acquisition of property.
Marijuana grow ops, credit card fraud, identity theft, pyramid schemes,
telemarketing scams and consumer fraud are a few of the unlawful activities
carried out by organized crime groups in B.C.
Civil forfeiture legislation is designed to stop people from profiting from
these kinds of unlawful activities at the expense of individuals and
society as a whole. It will be another tool to deal with organized crime.
Monies recovered from the liquidation of forfeited property will be paid
into a special Civil Forfeiture Account. From that account payments may be
made to:
* Prevent unlawful activities.
* Remedy the effects of unlawful activities.
* Eligible victims of an unlawful activity that resulted in a forfeiture.
* Costs related to the administration of the act.
Ontario, Manitoba and Alberta have civil forfeiture laws, along with the
United States, Australia, Great Britain and Ireland.
B.C.'s Solicitor General Rich Coleman announced plans Tuesday to fight
organized crime, introducing legislation that takes aim at the financial
assets of criminals.
"As part of our overall strategy to fight crime and enhance public safety,
we need to go after assets acquired through criminal activity," said
Coleman in a press release. "The Civil Forfeiture Act will put the onus on
people involved in unlawful activity to prove that their house, car, or
other property was bought with money not connected to criminal activity."
Under the new act, the government can apply to the court to seize
ill-gotten assets of crime through the civil law process. The recovered
assets can be used for crime prevention programs, law enforcement
initiatives or to compensate victims.
A judge can order forfeiture when a person has engaged in unlawful activity
that has resulted in profit or acquisition of property.
Marijuana grow ops, credit card fraud, identity theft, pyramid schemes,
telemarketing scams and consumer fraud are a few of the unlawful activities
carried out by organized crime groups in B.C.
Civil forfeiture legislation is designed to stop people from profiting from
these kinds of unlawful activities at the expense of individuals and
society as a whole. It will be another tool to deal with organized crime.
Monies recovered from the liquidation of forfeited property will be paid
into a special Civil Forfeiture Account. From that account payments may be
made to:
* Prevent unlawful activities.
* Remedy the effects of unlawful activities.
* Eligible victims of an unlawful activity that resulted in a forfeiture.
* Costs related to the administration of the act.
Ontario, Manitoba and Alberta have civil forfeiture laws, along with the
United States, Australia, Great Britain and Ireland.
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