FCIU’s successful POCCCA case before Supreme Court

The Financial Crime Investigation Unit (FCIU) of the Seychelles Police Force has recorded its first disposal order among 17 cases pursuant to the Proceeds of Crime (Civil confiscation) Act or POCCCA.

All of these cases, which the FCIU has brought before the Supreme Court since 2018, implicated a total of 27 Seychellois citizens and 5 foreigners, with a grand total of R19,976,791.37 worth of cash and other assets.

The first disposal order comes after the time limitation of 12 months to pursue such an application was observed pursuant to the stated Act.

It was in the case involving John, Joseph Sifflore; Davis, Jourdan Lesperance; Meggy, Agnes, Lawrence Tirant and Marie-Aline, Evaline Couchen, all from Praslin, which the Supreme Court, on September 23, 2020, ordered that the total sum of R260,282.37 and Euros 330.00 (including vehicles sold by FCIU) be forfeited to the government of Seychelles.

In its investigation in this case, which was brought to Court back in 2019, the FCIU found that the sums which were seized, and the vehicles involved, were all proceeds of drug trafficking and money-laundering.

It is to be noted that most of the 17 cases which are currently before the Supreme Court are cases which both the Anti-Narcotics Bureau and FCIU have jointly investigated and are drug related in nature.

 ANB communique