The Forensic Accountant and Unexplained Wealth

Abstract: Criminals should not be permitted to enjoy the profits of their crimes. Beyond this basic moral conviction there is no consensus on how to tackle the financial consequences of crime, or indeed an understanding of the size of the problem. Until recently most criminal justice systems around the world allowed certain criminals, particularly those involved in organised crime, to enjoy the fruits of their labour even after conviction. It was not until the 1980s and 1990s that most European countries as well as Australia provided provision for the confiscation of criminal assets, upon conviction, into their legislative bases in order to provide a sense of fairness (Stessens 2000). As a consequence of this action, there is now a role for the forensic accountants and the skills and knowledge they bring to assist in the fight against organised crime.