11 June 2004

South Africa's efforts to bust financial crimes received a boost on Friday when the US Secret Service (USSS) donated R2.5-million worth of electronic equipment to the SA Police Service and its elite investigations unit, the Scorpions.

The equipment included digital cameras, video machines, microscopes, cellphones, specialised software for computer forensics and financial crimes, and fingerprint kits.

The USSS will also provide local law enforcement agencies with training in interviewing skills and report writing, which have been identified as the main reasons why many commercial crimes are not prosecuted in South Africa.

Briefing the media in Pretoria, USSS Resident Agent Joe Ravenell said the US government wanted to help South Africa create a cadre of well trained investigators and prosecutors to be able to crack organised crime.

"We are hopeful that this programme will continue for years to come and focus on increasingly complex financial crimes", Ravenell said.

National Prosecution Authority official James Malinga said the donation would make it easier to catch criminals. "This equipment will make our tasks more efficient, especially in rural areas", Malinga said.

Ravenell added that the US government had funded a two-week training course for about 50 members from the SAPS Commercial Crimes Unit and 20 investigators from the Scorpions.

Source: BuaNews

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