Tax on crime...
May 25, 2006
TAXING THE assets of persons who gain wealth through illegal means emerged, yesterday as one of a number of recommendations submitted to a joint select committee of Parliament deliberating the Proceeds of Crime legislation.
Dr. Anthony Kennedy, head of legal operations, in Northern Ireland, for the Assets Recovery Agency of the United Kingdom, told committee members, yesterday, that, if it can be proven that a criminal suspect has an income for which he has not paid taxes, the authorities should move in and collect the amounts due in the normal way.
"The normal way includes, not only paying up the amount of tax you should have paid, but also a certain amount of interest on the tax you should have paid and the penalty for not paying it at the right time," he said.
Outlining the United Kingdom experience, Dr. Kennedy said, however, that the Proceeds of Crime legislation is far from perfect and the taxation component needs a number of amendments to make it more effective.
EVIDENCE OF INVOLVEMENT
He said the first and most appropriate method, if there is evidence of involvement in criminal activity, is to try and get a conviction in the criminal courts.
Committee chairman, Dr. Peter Phillips, said the Government was moving with urgency to have the Proceeds of Crime Bill considered and passed by Parliament. However, at present, the legislation has significant limitations and requires remedial work....
Author: Edmond Campbell
Source: Jamaica Gleaner
