Attachment order

(1) Where the Director has reasonable grounds to suspect that a person has committed, is committing or is about to commit a financial crime, he may without prejudice to the powers of the Supervisory Authority under the Money Laundering and Terrorism (Prevention) Act, apply to a Judge in Chambers ex parte for an attachment order and the Judge may, subject to sub- section (3), grant the application. CAP. 104. (2) An attachment order shall– (a) attach in the hands of any person named in the order all moneys and other property due or owing or belonging to or held on behalf of the suspect; (b) require that person to declare in writing to the Director within 48 hours of service of the order, the nature and source of all moneys and other property so attached; and (c) prohibit the person from transferring, pledging or otherwise disposing of any money or other property so attached except in such manner as may be specified in the order. (3) The Judge in Chambers shall not make an order under sub-section (1) unless he is satisfied that the suspect has committed, is committing or is about to commit a financial crime. (4) An attachment order under this section shall take effect forthwith and the Director shall– (a) cause a notice of the order to be published in the next issue of the Gazette and in at least one daily newspaper published and circulated in Belize; and (b) give notice of the order toFinancial Intelligence Unit[CAP. 138:02 15 (i) all banks and financial institutions; and (ii) any other person who may hold or be vested with property belonging to or held on behalf of the suspect. Schedule II.