White collar crime
About the article
This is a digitised version of an article from The Cayman Compass's print archive. Occasionally, the digitisation process introduces transcription errors, or other problems.
See the article in its original context from December 1988.
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People who do this sort of thing, whether they work for a bank or any other business, are criminals as much as the masked man who breaks into someone's home to steal valuables. Such offenders may look and sound well-bred, committing their crimes in a genteel way - with a stroke of the pen or an entry in a computer - but they should be treated as the thieves they are.
Attorney General Richard Ground recently pointed out that such cases will be vigorously prosecuted by his department.
This is particularly important here where the reputation of the major industries, banking and related activities, and even tourism, depend to such an overwhelming extent on the honesty of the people engaged in them.
It is true that there have been instances where people wondered how persons convicted of monetary crimes at the work place have ‘got off so lightly'. When it comes to sentencing in court, however, it is difficult to discuss individual cases because each depends on the circumstances peculiar to the particular case.
It has also been suggested that courts should disregard such considerations as the fact that a conviction in such cases usually means the end of the accused's career, or that a repeat offence is unlikely.
It is, of course, true that an offender should have considered the possible consequences before committing the offence. It cannot be ignored, however, that loss of career prospects for life amounts to some ingredient of punishment and should be one of the factors considered by the judge dealing with the case, whether the accused is a common labourer or a bank teller.
The degree of trust placed in the person by employees and clients should similarly be considered.
Meanwhile, it is incumbent upon employers in the sensitive industries in particular, to report such crimes when they occur.
It is important for people who may be tempted to know that they are not likely to get away with it should they succumb.
