MONEY LAUNDERING: THE ROLE OF A FORENSIC ACCOUNTANT AS AN EXPERT WITNESS

1. MONEY LAUNDERING: THE ROLE OF A FORENSIC ACCOUNTANT AS AN EXPERT WITNESS Presented By Amadiebube Robert Mbama MBA, CPA, CAMS © Amadiebube Robert Mbama MBA, CPA, CAMS

2. HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE • Financial Action Task Force (FATF) 1. Formed by a group of seven industrialized nations in 1989 in Paris. 2. In 1990 established and issued its 40 recommendations. 3. Revised in 1996 and 2003. 4. Additional nine recommendations dealing mostly on measures to counter terrorism. © Amadiebube Robert Mbama MBA, CPA, CAMS

3. HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE (Cont’d) • Recommendation 26 and the evolution of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). – Nigeria. • Called Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN in USA), Financial Transactions Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC), Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre. Many other countries have different names for it. © Amadiebube Robert Mbama MBA, CPA, CAMS

4. HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE (Cont’d) • Independent Corrupt Practices And Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) Establishment Act of 2000 • The Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act of 2004. • The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Act of 2004 © Amadiebube Robert Mbama MBA, CPA, CAMS

5. What is Money Laundering • Process of concealing Illegal source • Application of income derived from criminal or illegitimate activity • Subsequent disguising of the source of that income to make it appear legitimate • Source: Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists - ACAMS. © Amadiebube Robert Mbama MBA, CPA, CAMS

6. What is Money Laundering (Cont’d) • Laundered money is like water, it seeks the path of least resistance (ACAMS). Initially, money laundering was associated with drug trafficking and organized crime, however, it has been expanded to include extortion, terrorism, official bribery and corruption, arms smuggling, white collar crime and many other crimes. © Amadiebube Robert Mbama MBA, CPA, CAMS

7. The Three Stages: Placement, Layering and Integration. • Placement • Placement involves physically placing illegally obtained money into the financial system or the retail economy. "Dirty" money is most vulnerable to detection and seizure during placement. (U.S. Financial Crimes Enforcement Network) © Amadiebube Robert Mbama MBA, CPA, CAMS

8. The Three Stages: Placement, Layering and Integration (Cont’d). • Layering • Layering is the separation of illegally obtained money from its source through a series of financial transactions that makes it difficult to trace the origin. • During the layering phase of money laundering, criminals often take advantage of legitimate financial mechanisms in attempts to hide the source of their funds. © Amadiebube Robert Mbama MBA, CPA, CAMS

9. The Three Stages: Placement, Layering and Integration (Cont’d). • Layering (Cont’d) • A few of the many mechanisms that may be misused during layering are currency exchanges, wire transmitting services, prepaid cards that offer global access to cash via automated teller machines and goods at point of sale, casino services and domestic shell corporations lacking real assets and business activity that are set up to hold and move illicit funds. (U.S. Financial Crimes Enforcement Network) © Amadiebube Robert Mbama MBA, CPA, CAMS

10. The Three Stages: Placement, Layering and Integration (Cont’d). • Integration • Integration means converting the illicit funds into a seemingly legitimate form. Integration may include the purchase of businesses, automobiles, real estate and other assets. (U.S. Financial Crimes Enforcement Network) © Amadiebube Robert Mbama MBA, CPA, CAMS

11. What is Forensic Accounting? • Forensic accounting is the specialty practice area of accountancy that describes engagements that result from actual or anticipated disputes or litigation. • "Forensic" means "suitable for use in a court of law", and it is to that standard and potential outcome that forensic accountants generally have to work. • Forensic accountants, also referred to as forensic auditors or investigative auditors, often have to give expert evidence at the eventual trial. © Amadiebube Robert Mbama MBA, CPA, CAMS

12. What is Forensic Accounting? (Cont’d) • All of the larger accounting firms, as well as many medium-sized and boutique firms, have specialist forensic accounting departments. Within these groups, there may be further sub-specializations: some forensic accountants may, for example, just specialize in insuranceclaims, personal injury claims, fraud, construction, or royaltyaudits. (Source Wikipedia). • Recently Forensic accountants have started to develop expertise in tracking laundered money. Nigerian Forensic accountants should lead the rest of the world in developing expertise in tracking laundered money. This has urgency written all over it since Nigeria’s economic growth has been hampered by corruption which is a form of money laundering. © Amadiebube Robert Mbama MBA, CPA, CAMS

13. Who is a Forensic Accountant? © Amadiebube Robert Mbama MBA, CPA, CAMS

14. Who are Forensic Accountants? • Forensic accountants may be involved in recovering proceeds of crime and in relation to confiscation proceedings concerning actual or assumed proceeds of crime or money laundering. Some forensic accountants are also Certified Fraud Examiners, Certified Public Accountants, Certified Money Laundering Specialists, or Chartered Accountants. • Forensic accountants utilize an understanding of business information and financial reporting systems, accounting and auditing standards and procedures, evidence gathering and investigative techniques, and litigation processes and procedures to perform their work. © Amadiebube Robert Mbama MBA, CPA, CAMS

15. Are There Differences? • The major difference lies in the focus. While some may focus on fraud, others may focus on money laundering. • No matter the differences, adequate training and hands on experience will determine the level of expertise. © Amadiebube Robert Mbama MBA, CPA, CAMS

16. Who are Forensic Accountants? (Cont’d) • Forensic accountants are also increasingly playing more proactive risk reduction roles by designing and performing extended procedures as part of the statutory audit, acting as advisers to audit committees, fraud deterrence engagements, and assisting in investment analyst research. (Source Wikipedia) © Amadiebube Robert Mbama MBA, CPA, CAMS

17. Who is an Expert Witness? © Amadiebube Robert Mbama MBA, CPA, CAMS

18. Who is an Expert Witness? (Cont’d) • An expert witness is a witness, who by virtue of education, training, skill, or experience, is believed to have knowledge in a particular subject beyond that of the average person, sufficient that others may officially (and legally) rely upon the witness's specialized (scientific, technical or other) opinion about an evidence or fact issue within the scope of their expertise, referred to as the expert opinion, as an assistance to the fact-finder. Expert witnesses may also deliver expert evidence about facts from the domain of their expertise. At times, their testimony may be rebutted with a learned treatise, sometimes to the detriment of their reputations. © Amadiebube Robert Mbama MBA, CPA, CAMS

19. The Role of a Forensic Accountant as an Expert Witness • The principal role of a Forensic Accountant is to Analyze, Interpret, Summarize and Present Complex Business and Financial deals in a logical, understandable manner supported with facts. • As an Expert Witness, the Forensic Accountant must (a) Investigate and Analyze Financial information. (b) Develop Computerized applications (if applicable) to Assist in the Analysis and Presentation of Financial information. • Source: Alan Zysman B.Comm, CA·IFA, CFE has been in practice since 1984.  His firm Zysman Forensic Accounting Inc. located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada specializes in the provision of Investigative and Forensic Accounting services. © Amadiebube Robert Mbama MBA, CPA, CAMS

20. The Role of a Forensic Accountant as an Expert Witness (Cont’d) • Communicate Findings in the form of a Report and supporting documents. • Assist in any Legal Proceedings. • Assist in obtaining documentation necessary to support or refute a claim. • Review of the relevant documentation to form an initial assessment of the case and identify areas of loss. • Assist with Examination for Discovery including the formulation of questions to be asked regarding the financial evidence. • Source: Alan Zysman B.Comm, CA·IFA, CFE has been in practice since 1984.  His firm Zysman Forensic Accounting Inc. located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada specializes in the provision of Investigative and Forensic Accounting services. © Amadiebube Robert Mbama MBA, CPA, CAMS

21. The Role of a Forensic Accountant as an Expert Witness (Cont’d) • Attend the Examination for Discovery to review the testimony, assist with understanding the financial issues and to formulate additional questions to be asked. • Review of the opposing expert's damages report and reporting on both the strengths and weaknesses of the positions taken. • Assist with settlement discussions and negotiations. • Attend trial to hear the testimony of the opposing expert and to provide assistance with cross-examination. • Source: Alan Zysman B.Comm, CA·IFA, CFE has been in practice since 1984.  His firm Zysman Forensic Accounting Inc. located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada specializes in the provision of Investigative and Forensic Accounting services. © Amadiebube Robert Mbama MBA, CPA, CAMS

22. Steps that the Forensic Accountant Should Follow • Meet with key individuals • Discuss expectations • Discuss fees and reimbursable costs • Gather Evidence after meeting with key individuals • Research • Discuss with key individuals on information that was obtained after research • Make any necessary adjustment to the facts, if any, after discussion with key individuals • Write a formal report supported by evidence. © Amadiebube Robert Mbama MBA, CPA, CAMS

23. The Nigerian Factor Affecting the Role of a Forensic Accountant as an Expert Witness: • Environment • Very weak infrastructure • Weak judicial system • Weak educational system Indiscipline • Retards development • Creates chaotic social or work environment • Creates mistrust • Retards spiritual growth © Amadiebube Robert Mbama MBA, CPA, CAMS

24. The Nigerian Factor Affecting the Role of a Forensic Accountant as an Expert Witness: (Cont’d) • Corrupting Tendencies • Willingness to compromise • Abuse of office • Abuse of power • Rule of Law • Insincerity in application • Justice delayed is justice denied • Abuse of office • Abuse of power © Amadiebube Robert Mbama MBA, CPA, CAMS

25. The Nigerian Factor Affecting the Role of a Forensic Accountant as an Expert Witness: (Cont’d) • The Nigerian Factor • Lack of continuity • Too much centralization of authority • Too many Chiefs and not enough Indians • Fiscal indiscipline • Lack of transparency • Institutionalized corruption • Institutionalized money laundering • Abuse of office • Abuse of power © Amadiebube Robert Mbama MBA, CPA, CAMS

26. Thank You • Until we meet again © Amadiebube Robert Mbama MBA, CPA, CAMS