original address: http://www.baltictimes.com/news/articles/20882/
Money laundering and terrorist bill approved by Latvian parliament
Jul 18, 2008 Monika Hanley
RIGA– The Latvian parliament on July 17 passed the money laundering and
terrorist law today, after a few changes were made.
According to LETA news agency, the parliament approved a stipulation which
states that criminal proceeds also include money that a person received,
directly or indirectly, as a result of a criminal offense. They also approved
the change to the bill’s section regarding the Control Service, stating that they
may 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 terrorist
financing to the parliament for another look.
President Zatlers as well as experts have sharply criticized the law – saying that
the law had been passed too quickly and was low quality.
President Zatlers also added that the law has been
long-awaited by Latvia’s
international partners, but not written in such low quality.
A total of90 parliament members
voted in support of the bill.
