1. CBB, Embassy Of France To Host Regional Event On Anti-Money Laundering Techniques
Manama, Bahrain - 25 March 2007 - The Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) and the Embassy of France
in Bahrain are organising a major training programme on anti-money laundering (AML) techniques.
The event, titled 'Anti-Money Laundering Techniques: From Suspicion to Prosecution', is a regional
training programme aimed at all players involved in the process, from across the GCC. It will be held on
28 & 29 March 2007, at the Diplomat Radisson SAS Hotel.
Leading speakers at the event will focus on such issues as the detection phase, investigation and
prosecution techniques as well as prevention and investigation techniques for combating the financing of
terrorism (CFT).
The event will be officially inaugurated by Mr. Rasheed Mohammed Al Maraj, Governor of the CBB, and
Ms. Mallika Berak, Ambassador of France to Bahrain.
The line-up of international speakers includes Mr. Nadim Kyriakos-Saad, Senior Counsel, Policy and
Research Coordinator, at the International Monetary Fund (IMF), who will lead a session on combating
the financing of terrorism by charities.
Mr. Henri Pons, Vice President, Economic Section of the French County Court of Paris, will focus on
financial investigation, while Mr. Jean-Pierre Bernard, Prosecutor of Financial and Economic Cases at the
French Department of Justice, will address the issues of prosecution and enforcement.
Other speakers at the event include Mr. Adel Al Qulaish, Executive Secretary of the MENAFATF, a
Financial Action Task Force (FATF)-style body for the Middle East and North Africa region, and Ms
Josianne Reggane, Head of Regional Compliance (Gulf region and Cyprus), BNP Paribas.
The event will attract over 100 delegates, representing banks and financial institutions, as well as
government agencies involved in AML/CFT work.
?The CBB is strongly committed to maintaining an effective regulatory framework, in order to combat
money laundering and terrorism financing,? said Mr. Abdul Rahman Al Baker, Executive Director, Financial
Institutions Supervision, at the CBB.
As a result, regulations on AML/CFT are an integral part of the regulatory environment for all types of
financial firms operating in and from Bahrain.
Bahrain is an active participant in FATF, the international body that promotes policies to combat money
laundering and terrorism financing, and is also headquarters for MENAFATF, he pointed out.
Mr. Al Baker stressed the need to continuously upgrade the skills and knowledge required to detect and
tackle AML/CFT transactions.
'We believe that events such as these serve to improve the competencies of those professionals working
to ensure that financial markets remain clean. This in turn enhances market confidence and helps
protect Bahrain?s good reputation in this area,' he said.
