Peter James joined the Basel Institute on Governance in April 2026 as a Senior Specialist, Financial Investigation, based in Sri Lanka. He joins our International Centre for Asset Recovery (ICAR) to deliver technical assistance to Sri Lanka’s anti-corruption and economic crime authorities.

In this role, Peter focuses on strengthening the investigation and prosecution capacity of corruption cases, enhancing mutual assistance frameworks and building effective, sustainable mechanisms to develop the country’s asset recovery process.

A highly experienced financial investigator, Peter has an extensive background in tackling complex economic crime. He began his career in London with the Metropolitan Police and the Serious Fraud Office, specialising in the investigation of complex national and international fraud, money laundering, bribery and corruption.

He later worked in the corporate investigation sector before serving as a Fraud and Financial Investigator for a Special Investigation and Prosecution Team in a British Overseas Territory.  Established by the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO), this team was tasked with investigation allegations of fraud, money laundering, bribery and corruption involving former government ministers and senior public officials.

Most recently, Peter served as an anti-corruption Consultant with the Integrity Commission in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Peter holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business and Public Administration.