SLP Lacks Required Expertise To Investigate Financial Crime- ACP Joan Bull Kamara

By Fatmata Mohamed Bangura
The Head of Legal and Justice Support Department and Financial Crimes Investigation of the Sierra Leone, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Joan Bull Kamara has disclosed that the SLP is working to ensure that it is well capacitated to investigate financial crime.
This was made known by ACP Joan Bull Kamara on Tuesday 12th November 2024, at the Government Weekly Press Briefing held at the Ministry of Energy Conference Room in Freetown.
She mentioned that financial crimes are one of the main criminal activities that are ongoing, emphasizing that the flow of illicit money is disadvantaging the country and its institutions.
ACP Joan Bull added that they have various ways in which they handle financial crimes and will conduct a proper investigation into them, pointing out that they are collaborating with the Ministry of Justice to match up to standards and equip their investigators to be able to investigate every criminal financial activity that is occurring.
ACP Joan Bull mentioned that money laundering is a criminal activity that often accompanies another crime. For instance, if you obtain money through false pretenses and then try to use that money to clean illegal gains and present them as legitimate funds, that constitutes money laundering, she said.
She explained that money laundering involves the proceeds of illicit criminal activity and provided examples such as selling a human being or engaging in human trafficking.
ACP Joan Bull emphasized that the purpose of explaining this to media practitioners is to educate the general public that may not fully understand the concept of money laundering.
She reiterated that money laundering involves illegal activities that generate money, which is then used in ways to make it appear clean and legitimate.
According to ACP Bull, financial crimes require technical expertise, and the SLP is striving to meet the required standards.
She disclosed that the Inspector General of Police William Fayia Sellu is ensuring they provide training for criminal investigators, with upcoming sessions planned for all crime officers, particularly senior officers.
ACP Bull stated that they are not only focused on investigating but also on identifying offenses and meeting high standards to handle such matters effectively. She emphasized the importance of conducting thorough investigations to avoid complications during court proceedings and highlighted the measures in place to prevent criminal activities like human trafficking while urging the public to remain vigilant against illegal activities.