A Legal Appraisal of the Fight Against Money Laundering by the Courts in Cameroon

Abstract

Money laundering is a crime that is rampant in the world and Cameroon despite the existence of laws and institutions to combat same, the practice still poses a significant threat to economic stability, social justice, and right to development in the country. Money laundering is the covert process of disguising significant amounts of money derived from illegal activities like drug
trafficking or corruption to make it appear legitimate. This unlawful practice hinders economic growth, reduces efficiency in the real economy, and undermines developmental objectives. This paper examines the role of the courts in Cameroon in combating money laundering, a critical aspect of financial crime with far-reaching implications for economic stability and social justice.
Focusing on the legal framework and judicial practices, it evaluates the effectiveness of the judiciary in addressing money laundering challenges within the country. By analyzing relevant laws, judicial decisions, and enforcement mechanisms, this paper sheds light on the strengths, weaknesses, and gaps in the legal framework for combating money laundering in Cameroon. The
paper employs qualitative research methods, focusing particularly on the doctrinal approach, which involves analyzing primary and secondary data through content analysis.. In addition, focus groups, observation, and unstructured interviews are used in the study. The ensuing result revealed that money laundering is not effectively combatted by the courts in Cameroon as there
is still the prevalence of same which has an adverse effect on the right to development in Cameroon. Hence, there is the need to establish a national money laundering coordinator or monitoring body and to strengthen the fight against corruption within the judiciary especially the courts in Cameroon.