Greyling – ‘Criminal Assets Recovery Account cash should go to victims’
30-07-2007, 14H30, ID Chief Whip Lance Greyling says the disbursement of funds from the Criminal Assets Recovery Account (CARA) ‘favours the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and South African Police Service (SAPS), at the expense of our most vulnerable victims of crime.
‘In October last year the NPA and SAPS received R65m, while victims’
organizations, such as women shelters, only got R3.3m,’ says
Greyling.
‘It represents a conflict of interests that over 90% of the money collected goes straight back to those who collected it.’
Greyling says the next disbursement of CARA funds ‘should take place in 2008, according to statements by the Asset Forfeiture Unit and the ID is demanding that victims’ organizations are given more money.
‘It is clear from the past disbursement that the majority of money seized by the asset forfeiture unit of the NPA has been funneled back to the NPA and its prosecuting partners, with only crumbs going towards victims’ services and organizations.
‘The ID believes that the spirit of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act requires an equitable distribution between victims’ organizations and law enforcement agencies,’ Greyling says.
‘The victim empowerment sector is currently massively under-resourced and struggles to provide services to vulnerable women and children, who bear the brunt of violent crime in the country.
‘The ID therefore believes that at the very least these organizations should be receiving half of the CARA funds,’ says Greyling.
‘The ID is further concerned about the conflict of interest arising from the fact that the NPA both seizes the assets, and recommends to the Minister of Justice where they should be disbursed.’
Greyling says he is going to put in a parliamentary question seeking clarity on the policy guiding the disbursement of CARA funds as well as the process by which victims’ organizations can request shares of these funds.
Released by Lance Greyling – 083 298 8553
‘It represents a conflict of interests that over 90% of the money collected goes straight back to those who collected it.’
Greyling says the next disbursement of CARA funds ‘should take place in 2008, according to statements by the Asset Forfeiture Unit and the ID is demanding that victims’ organizations are given more money.
‘It is clear from the past disbursement that the majority of money seized by the asset forfeiture unit of the NPA has been funneled back to the NPA and its prosecuting partners, with only crumbs going towards victims’ services and organizations.
‘The ID believes that the spirit of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act requires an equitable distribution between victims’ organizations and law enforcement agencies,’ Greyling says.
‘The victim empowerment sector is currently massively under-resourced and struggles to provide services to vulnerable women and children, who bear the brunt of violent crime in the country.
‘The ID therefore believes that at the very least these organizations should be receiving half of the CARA funds,’ says Greyling.
‘The ID is further concerned about the conflict of interest arising from the fact that the NPA both seizes the assets, and recommends to the Minister of Justice where they should be disbursed.’
Greyling says he is going to put in a parliamentary question seeking clarity on the policy guiding the disbursement of CARA funds as well as the process by which victims’ organizations can request shares of these funds.
Released by Lance Greyling – 083 298 8553
