Chamber President calls for swift justice for corporate crime

Port-of-Spain: President of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce Andrew Sabga is calling for swift justice for corporate crimes that include the misappropriation of funds.

While he stayed away from referring to any specific cases, he told the Annual General Meeting of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce today that the lack of accountability seems to be an accepted trend in the coporate world.

Locally the UFF and Clico Inquiries are investigating all evidence for corporate wrongdoing.

Sagba says the perpetrators should be brought to justice.

Statistics show corporate crimes are up, with 111 crimes of laundering and fraud  committed in 2010 and 303 in 2011.he says the chamber is committed to working with all stakeholders to develop a national code of corporate governance.

Sabga says while serious crime was reduced by 50 percent during the State of Emergency which the Chamber supported, the jury's still out on the long-term impact.

He says the responsibility cannot lie with the government alone and that the chamber stands ready to do it's part in fighting crime.