Juniver Highlights 'Seizure' Title, Proposes Criminal Asset Recovery Bill

Advocate Juniver Girsang has scrutinised the nomenclature of the Asset Seizure Bill during a meeting with the House of Representatives’ Commission III, arguing that the term ‘seizure’ is inappropriate. He proposed that the bill be renamed the Criminal Asset Recovery Bill or the Criminal Asset Return Bill, noting that this terminology is more coherent with provisions in the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), specifically Articles 51 and 54, which discuss asset recovery. Juniver stated that the term ‘seizure’ sounds unpleasant and expressed surprise that people seem more attracted to that title. He explained that the current title gives the impression that a person has been convicted of an act before any legal process has taken place, as the word ‘seize’ implies a crime has already been committed. He therefore urged that the nomenclature be changed to the Criminal Asset Recovery or Return Bill.