04/08/2011

White Collar Crime Measure To Be Introduced

A measure which will assist juries in their deliberations in complex theft and fraud trials is to be introduced.

Section 57 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001 provides that at a trial for an offence under the Act, the judge may order copies of documents, charts, transcripts, agreed summaries of evidence and other documents to be given to a jury to assist in its deliberations.

Theft and fraud trials can involve the presentation of extensive evidence about company accounts, complex financial transactions and convoluted money trails. The measure which Alan Shatter, Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence, has commenced will allow for various documents such as charts, diagrams and summaries of evidence to be given to juries in such cases. This will allow jury members to review key aspects of evidence in a simplified manner and enhance their ability to reach just and fair decisions. When signing the commencement order Minister Shatter said: "This is an important step in tackling white collar crime. Courts will be able to ensure that juries are assisted in analysing evidence. For too long the complexity of evidence in fraud trials has been allowed to stand as a barrier to effective prosecutions. In addition to this, I welcome signature by the President yesterday of the Criminal Justice Act 2011. This Act concluded the legislative process in the Seanad last Wednesday and it is now a formal Act of the Oireachtas. Combined, these measures will strengthen the hands of An Garda Síochána and the Director of Public Prosecutions in their work to investigate and prosecute white collar crime."

(BMcN/GK)

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