(C) BELIZE: GOVERNMENT REQUESTS ASSISTANCE

C O N F I D E N T I A L BELMOPAN 000131 SIPDIS SIPDIS FOR WHA/CEN - R. BEAL, INL EMBASSIES FOR LEGATT, DEA, REGIONAL AFFAIRS, USMS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/04/2018 TAGS: PREL SNAR SOCI PINR ASEC BH SUBJECT: (C) BELIZE: GOVERNMENT REQUESTS ASSISTANCE TRACKING MISSING FUNDS REF: A. A) BELMOPAN 130 (NOTAL) ¶B. B) BELMOPAN 109 (NOTAL) Classified By: CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR ROBERT J. DIETER, REASONS 1.4(b ) AND (d). ¶1. (C) Attorney General/Foreign Minister Elrington has asked the Ambassador for USG assistance in tracking a Venezuelan grant made just before the election and now the subject of controversy over the amount provided (REF A). Elrington requested any information we might be able to provide on the actual amount of the loan, and, if it was more than US$10 million, where any additional funds were transferred to. ¶2. (C) In addition, Elrington has asked for USG assistance in providing an expert assessment of what would be required to perform a complete audit of government finances for the past decade, in order to identify misappropriated assets. ¶3. (C) COMMENT: We believe the GOB is serious about seeking to identify stolen government money and recover stolen public assets. Such action, including prosecution in serious cases, would go a long way to breaking the culture of impunity that allowed corruption to flourish in recent years. This request for law enforcement assistance presents an excellent opportunity for the USG to develop early, positive relations with the GOB in the area of financial intelligence including GOB's Financial Intelligence Unit. If we can assist the new government with asset recovery and prosecution, we will open the door to the type of broader information sharing on money laundering and criminal financial transactions that we have sought for some time. We also believe that the recent assistance request from the National Security Minister (REF B) is a useful one which the USG should support. END COMMENT. DIETER