Moroccan Govt Heightens Money-laundering Combating Procedures

Protesters shout slogans during a demonstration against corruption and official abuses, in the Rif region in Rabat, Morocco June 11, 2017. REUTERS/Stringer
Protesters shout slogans during a demonstration against corruption and official abuses, in the Rif region in Rabat, Morocco June 11, 2017. REUTERS/Stringer
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Moroccan Govt Heightens Money-laundering Combating Procedures

Protesters shout slogans during a demonstration against corruption and official abuses, in the Rif region in Rabat, Morocco June 11, 2017. REUTERS/Stringer
Protesters shout slogans during a demonstration against corruption and official abuses, in the Rif region in Rabat, Morocco June 11, 2017. REUTERS/Stringer

The Moroccan government has amended a law to combat money laundering in implementation of the Financial Action Task Force recommendation.

Moroccan Prime Minister Saadeddine al-Othmani considered the ratification a qualitative addition for the sake of eradicating this crime that conceals accumulated revenues of other crimes whether corruption or others.

He added, during the government’s meeting on Thursday, that this law would enable the country to combat this crime and others. From here, the amendment was significant because combating corruption is an essential tool that could maintain security.

The PM reinstated the procedures taken to combat corruption, including establishing the National Institution for Integrity and Combating and Preventing Bribery (Instance Nationale de la Probité, de la Prévention et de la Lutte contre la Corruption) and other procedures.

Othmani stated that the purpose is to close corruption channels on all levels. Earlier, Morocco underwent the first round of mutual assessment of the system for combating money-laundry and terrorism-funding in 2007. The second round underwent mutual evaluation in Sep. 2017.

The first report on mutual assessment in Morocco was prepared during the general meeting in Beirut in November 2018, also in the general meeting in April 2019 in Amman. In the report, Morocco got a ‘basic’ level in the field of investigating terrorism funding crimes and bringing the involved to court.

Morocco was among the pioneering countries in the region in preparing the first risk assessment report on money-laundry and terrorism-funding, with the assistance of the World Bank.



Saudi Arabia Approves 2025 Budget with Total Deficit of $26.9 bln

General view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
General view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia Approves 2025 Budget with Total Deficit of $26.9 bln

General view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
General view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Tuesday approved the country's budget for 2025, state media reported, with a planned deficit of 101 billion riyals ($26.88 billion).

The budget set spending at 1.285 trillion riyals in 2025 and total revenues at 1.184 trillion riyals. ($1 = 3.7568 riyals)

The Crown Prince also directed ministers and officials to commit, each in his capacity, to implementing the programs, strategies, and development and social projects included in the budget, consistent with the goals of the Kingdom's Vision 2030.