KATHMANDU: The government has prepared a five-year strategy to enhance measures against money laundering. The Asset Laundering Steering Committee, chaired by the Finance Minister, approved the draft strategy with amendments during its first meeting on Wednesday. Once the Council of Ministers approves it, the strategy will be implemented.

The meeting, chaired by Finance Minister Barsha Man Pun, included committee members Law Minister Padam Giri, Chief Secretary Baikunth Aryal, Nepal Rastra Bank’s Governor Maha Prasad Adhikari, Attorney General Dinmani Pokharel, Secretary of the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, Leela Gartaula, and Revenue Secretary Dr Ram Prasad Ghimire.

The strategy, titled "National Strategy and Action Plan on Prevention of Financial Investments in Money Laundering and Terrorist Activities," will be implemented in the current financial year 081/082.

Mahesh Acharya, joint secretary and Head of the Economic Policy Analysis Division of the Ministry of Finance, stated that the strategy focuses on safeguarding the country's financial system and overall economy from the risks of financial crimes. It aims to curb financial crimes such as corruption, revenue evasion, money laundering, and cryptocurrency transactions. The strategy also addresses drug trafficking, organized crime, criminal activities, internal terrorism, fraud, theft, counterfeit currency trading, black market activities, smuggling, and crime control.

Last year, the Asia Pacific Group (APG), in collaboration with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and the FTF, conducted a technical assessment of Nepal's money laundering situation. Following the APG's mutual evaluation report in September, 2023, recommendations were made to improve the technical, legal, policy, and structural aspects of Nepal's anti-money laundering efforts.

Nepal, a member state of APG, has already amended the Prevention of Money Laundering Act based on recommendations from the FATF and APG. The APG delegation is scheduled to revisit Nepal in October for the next phase of their study. Both organizations have advised implementing and modifying the existing legal framework to better address money laundering concerns.

The FATF has warned that if the current situation does not improve, Nepal risks being placed on the "grey list" for money laundering. Being on this list could damage the country's international reputation, reduce foreign aid, loans, and investments, complicate international banking transactions, decrease remittance flow, increase the hundi business, and potentially trigger an economic crisis.

In the previous session of Parliament, the House of Representatives passed the Bill to Amend Some Laws Related to Prevention of Money Laundering and Promotion of Business Environment 2080. This bill amended and updated 19 different laws related to money laundering.

These amendments included the Export Import (Control) Act 2013, Ship Registration Act 2027, Land Act 2034, Tourism Act 2035, Building Act 2055, Securities Act 2063, Nepal Rastra Bank Act 2058, Human Trafficking and Transportation (Control) Act 2064, Criminal Assets and Instruments (Seizure, Control and Confiscation) Act 2070, Mutual Legal Assistance Act 2070, Prevention of Organized Crime Act 2070, Electricity Regulatory Commission Act 2074, Cooperatives Act 2074, Foreign Investment and Technology Transfer Act 2075, Insurance Act 2079, Civil Crime Code 2074, and Civil Criminal Procedure Code 2074.

The Act expands the police's jurisdiction in collecting information and prosecuting money laundering cases, regulates casinos, and includes money laundering as a criminal offense. It also encompasses electronic and digital transactions within the scope of money laundering. Section 7 (b) of the Act establishes a Steering Committee chaired by the finance minister.

The Act empowers the Steering Committee to draft policies and programs related to money laundering, develop necessary mechanisms, and coordinate and monitor all agencies of the federal, state, and local governments. The committee can also take actions to enforce the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. Additionally, the committee will approve the National Risk Assessment Report on Money Laundering submitted by other committees and prepare an annual report on Money Laundering for the Council of Ministers.