29 January 2015
A delegation from the United States Department of Justice has been in Jersey to sign an Asset Sharing Agreement.
The agreement recognises the international efforts of both the US and Jersey in the fight against financial and other cross-border crimes, including the targeting of terrorism and money laundering.
It provides that where one party has helped another in facilitating a forfeiture or confiscation of assets in criminal or civil proceedings, such assets may be shared between the parties.
The agreement was signed by Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Kenneth Blanco, on behalf of the United States, and the Attorney General, Timothy Le Cocq QC, on behalf of the Government of Jersey.
The US delegation also included Assistant Deputy Chief, Jack de Kluiver, and Senior International Counsel, Michael J. Burke, of the Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Section of the US Department of Justice.
During the visit, the delegation met the Deputy Bailiff, William Bailhache, and toured the Royal Court and States Chamber.
The Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Kenneth Blanco, said “The consistent and reliable cooperation we receive from our counterparts in Jersey has been indispensable to our efforts to recover many millions of dollars in criminal assets from abroad.
"Because a number of pending US investigations and prosecutions involve assets located in this important international financial centre, today’s agreement can be expected to serve as a useful tool for asset recovery and sharing in the future.”
Jersey's Attorney General, Timothy Le Cocq, said “I am delighted to sign this agreement which recognises the longstanding co-operation between Jersey and the United States in the field of mutual legal assistance, and facilitates this in the future.
"As a small jurisdiction, our ability to confiscate and share assets enables us to build a significant fighting fund to aid future investigations and prosecutions.”
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