GovernmentFreezes Peruvian Money
David Ballantyne,
Attorney General
The Cayman Islands Government said it hasfrozen money which it believes to be proceeds from criminal activityand being held in local bank accounts belonging to former Advisorto the Peruvian Secret Service, Vladimiro Montesinos Torres.
In a release issued Tuesday, 21 August,the Cayman Islands Government, through Attorney General DavidBallantyne, noted that investigations of the former advisor inPeru are underway and so far there have been accusations of murderand narcotics distribution among others.
The money is reported to be in millionsof dollars and the Attorney General said that freezing of theassets was in response to requests from the Peruvian Government.
The following is the government's release
"Early this year the Cayman IslandsGovernment received various requests from the Peruvian Governmentin relation to funds held in various accounts at banks here inGrand Cayman.
"The requests were made that thesefunds be frozen on the basis that they are the proceeds of crimeof Vladimiro Montesinos Torres and his associates, currently underinvestigation in Peru. Montesinos is a Peruvian national who heldthe position of Advisor to the Peruvian secret service between1990 and 2000 and was closely linked to the former President ofPeru, Alberto Fujimori.
"Montesinos is the main subject ofan extensive Peruvian criminal investigation. Investigations intohis activities so far have unearthed accusations of murder, narcoticsdistribution, extortion, illicit arms deals, bribery and corruption.
"In response to the requests of thePeruvian Government the Attorney General, with the assistanceof Crown Counsel from the Legal Department, successfully appliedfor and obtained freezing orders from the Grand Court in respectof funds held in the accounts identified.
"When further information came to lightfrom Peru. Officers from the Financial Reporting Unit began investigationsinto the activities of the banks concerned. Using powers availableunder the Proceeds of Criminal Conduct Law (2001) the officerswere able to obtain documentation from the institutions involvedand the investigations which followed led to a further applicationbeing made to the Grand Court in July when a Restraint Order wasobtained replacing the earlier orders and freezing further fundsidentified as being likely to be the proceeds of criminal conduct.
"As a result of these investigationsthe Cayman Islands Government has been able to assist the PeruvianGovernment in freezing the funds and uncovering further informationabout the actual location of the funds and the manner in whichthey have been deposited by the alleged criminals" the releaseconcluded.