DPP recommends then puts hold on money laundering related charges against Omar Shariff

Shariff was in the courtroom with his Attorneys and Magistrate Fabayo Azore was about to read the charge to him when the issue of the High Court matter was raised.

DPP recommends then puts hold on money laundering related charges against Omar Shariff

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of the Presidency Omar Shariff, who is on administrative leave, appeared in court today but left without charges being read to him as the Prosecution and Defence agreed to seek clarification about a high court matter involving Shariff.

Shariff was in the courtroom with his Attorneys and Magistrate  Fabayo Azore was about to read the charge to him when the issue of the High Court matter was raised.

Shariff was expected to face the charge of failing to comply with the production order, contrary to Section 26 of the Anti-Money Laundering act.

The charge had been recommended by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.  However, a check at the DPP’s office this afternoon revealed that the file is to be sent back for additional information before the charge against him could go forward.

News Source understands that the Special Organised Crime Unit, which has been probing Shariff’s alleged involvement in money laundering, had moved to the High Court in an effort to get Shariff to provide specific information and documents that would have aided their probe.

Reports suggest that he may have been unwilling to provide information and documents to the investigators as part of their probe on him.

Mr. Shariff, who was a candidate for the People’s Progressive Party at the last elections, remained as Permanent Secretary of the Presidential Secretariat even after a new government took office.

He was sent on leave in June, 2016 after the Special Organised Crime Unit launched a massive probe into several bank accounts that carried his name and the names of persons who worked close to him.

Many of the bank accounts saw multi million dollar transactions moving through them for several years and it is believed that the volume and type of transfers may have been what triggered the probe.

He has always declared his innocence.

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