‘Lottery Scam’ Bill almost ready, says Golding

Daraine Luton, Senior Staff Reporter

Justice Minister Mark Golding is expected by next week to receive the draft copy of a bill aimed at stemming the lottery scam and other types of advance fee fraud.

Speaking in the Senate today, Golding said he has been told by the draftsman in the office of the Chief Parliamentary Council that progress is being made on the proposed legislation.

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP) had recommended that the Government consider creating an advance fee fraud statute along the lines of that which exists in Nigeria.

Among the recommendations made by the ODPP is that the Parliament make it a criminal offence for people to possess lead sheets and other materials used in the lottery scam.

Golding provided an update on the progress of the Bill during a debate on the Evidence (Amendment) Act.

That Act was passed this morning with one amendment and makes provisions for the use of video-recorded evidence in criminal and civil proceedings and in a coroner's inquest.

The bill seeks to introduce special measures that can be used to facilitate the giving of evidence by vulnerable witnesses and other specified witnesses.

The bill identifies vulnerable witnesses as children, a complainant in criminal proceedings relating to a sexual offence, and a witness whose evidence the court determines is unlikely to be available to the court because of fear or distress.

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