DOHA: Under the auspices of Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Deputy Amir H H Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani inaugurated yesterday the Institute of Criminal Studies; Cybercrime Prosecution; Money Laundering and Economic Crimes Prosecution; and State Security and Counter-terrorism Prosecution, at the headquarters of Qatar Public Prosecution.

Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani attended the inauguration ceremony along with a number of Their Excellencies Ministers, heads of diplomatic missions accredited to the State of Qatar and senior officials. Attorney-General H E Dr Ali bin Fetais Al Marri delivered a welcoming speech.

“The opening of the Institute of Criminal Studies, Cybercrime Prosecution, Money Laundering and Economic Crimes Prosecution, State Security and Counterterrorism Prosecution, which is part of the Public Prosecutor’s Office, reflects the support of H H the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and his keenness on the independence of the judiciary and separate the authorities,” the Attorney-General said.

“The Institute of Criminal Studies is a specialized institute in the study of forensic science, which prepares the staff of the Public Prosecution through training courses and continuous workshops throughout the year,” he said while talking to reporters on the sidelines of the inauguration.

He also pointed out that  the institute will include a statistical centre that will provide accurate statistics on the crimes and their number, their reasons and scientific solutions.

“Despite that Qatar is one of the safest countries in the world in terms of crime rate, it is expected that this institute will make a quantum leap in reducing the crime rate in the country. Qatari doctors and professors in collaboration with expertise from different countries will work at the institute,” Al Marri said.

He said that the prosecution of cybercrime has gained  importance and need after the hacking of the Qatar News Agency, stressing that facing such crimes has become necessary.

“We are interested in preventing this type of crime because of the spread of the Internet and we are cooperating in this regard with major countries preceded us in technology,” adding that this prosecution will produce specialists in combating crimes, whether electronic or economic or money laundering and terrorism.

He said that the issues of money laundering and economic crimes have become complex and linked in one way or other with terrorism, stressing the importance of having local expertise and specialized agencies to meet the challenges of the future especially as the issues of money laundering and economic and electronic crimes are developing terribly.

Al Marri also appreciated the great cooperation between the Public Prosecution, the Ministry of the Interior and the Central Bank in relation to cybercrime, money laundering and economic crimes, motioning that Qatar has many agreements with most countries of the world and these countries are obliged to provide the necessary information and support in such cases.

In response to a question about the hacking of the BeIN Sports channels, Al Marri said that no matter how long or short time it takes, BeIN Sports will regain all its rights that have been hacked in unacceptable and illegal ways and punishable by law. He said that the file of the case of “ BeIN Sports” is still open against those who have hacked it.

“Others should know that the world is not a jungle but is governed by strict laws, especially what related to intellectual property rights issues, which are governed by a strict laws.”

About the Compensation Claims Committee, he clarified that the committee was under the presidency of the Public Prosecution until it completed its first stage related to gathering information and preparing the files.

According to the nature of the committee’s work in the next stage, now its presidency shifted to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, because the next stage will be at the international level.

Commenting on the importance of opening new three public prosecutions, Director-General of Public Security, Staff Major General Saad bin Jassim Al Khulaifi said that “ the three new prosecutions will accelerate procedures and make the work more easier.”