Justice

Criminal Assets Bureau says proposed Magnitsky Act has ‘no practical benefit’

Bureau’s comments cast doubt on a bill designed to seize the assets of human rights violators in cases where they’re being stored in Ireland

In a submission to the Oireachtas justice committee, CAB said it had ‘significant doubts’ over whether the assets targeted by the bill exist. Picture: RollingNews.ie

The Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) has said it cannot see “any practical benefit” to a proposed Magnitsky Act – a proposed bill designed to seize the assets of human rights violators in cases where they’re being stored in Ireland.

The bill, proposed by Labour TD Brendan Howlin, would bring certain assets under the scope of the proceeds of crime act 1996, increasing the power of Irish lawmakers to seize them from officials of other states ...