Money laundering and terrorist bill approved by Latvian parliament

  • 2008-07-18
  • Monika Hanley

RIGA's The Latvian parliament on July 17 passed the money laundering andterrorist law today, after a few changes were made.  

According to LETA news agency, the parliament approved a stipulation whichstates that criminal proceeds also include money that a person received,directly or indirectly, as a result of a criminal offense. They also approvedthe change to the bill's section regarding the Control Service, stating that theymay not disclose information if it damages Latvia's independence, security,public order or national interest.


President Valdis Zatlers returned the law against money laundering and terroristfinancing to the parliament for another look.

President Zatlers as well as experts have sharply criticized the law 's saying thatthe law had been passed too quickly and was low quality.

President Zatlers also added that the law has beenlong-awaited by Latvia'sinternational partners, but not written in such low quality.

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A total of  90 parliament membersvoted in support of the bill.