The Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit has warned David Casa that he has handled stolen sensitive information, adding that it will be demanding that action be taken after he published a leaked FIAU report.
The Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit said Casa was referring to the document he published as an FIAU report when this document was still a work in progress when it was illegally leaked.
“Furthermore, for reasons known to Mr Casa, the document was re-typed, and the FIAU noted several discrepancies, omissions and inaccurate reproductions of text. The document published by Mr Casa is therefore not an FIAU report and nor is it a faithful reproduction of any FIAU document.
Nonetheless, Mr Casa has chosen to make public secret FIAU information which he has illegally obtained. The FIAU deplores Mr Casa’s actions as these first of all place the safety of a number of FIAU officials at serious risk.”
The FIAU said the publication of the document prejudices its ability to obtain and exchange intelligence from its international counterparts, undermines the work carried out by the FIAU, and hinders any possible ongoing police investigations.
“The publication of leaked FIAU information also affects the FIAU’s credibility and the trust that entities that are obliged to submit suspicious transaction reports have in the Unit.
Mr Casa’s deliberate act of publishing a document which is based on intelligence obtained by the FIAU, will inevitably cause irreparable damage to the Unit which now finds itself in possible serious breach of its international obligations vis-a-vis counterpart FIUs that have provided intelligence, and also of its obligations towards the Egmont Group of FIUs.
The FIAU also refers to a public statement made by Mr Casa on 16 April 2018 wherein he informed the public that he appeared before a magistrate regarding the “FIAU leaked report” and confirms that he will not be revealing the identity of his source who he is intent on protecting.
The leaking of FIAU information is a criminal act in itself, the perpetrator of which therefore seems to be known to Mr Casa. Mr Casa has therefore not only handled stolen sensitive information, but appears to be protecting persons who have carried out criminal acts, and is using information which the FIAU has obtained for his own political mileage.
Mr Casa’s position as an MEP does not place him above the Law and the FIAU will demand that action be taken. The FIAU believes that the publication of the said document exposes Mr Casa as a possible accomplice in the leaking of information from the FIAU in violation of the law and in the handling of stolen property.”