UNODC delivers anti-money-laundering training in Viet Nam
Hanoi (Viet Nam), 27 May 2010 - As part of its
Global Programme against Money-Laundering, UNODC, in partnership with the World Bank, held two training courses for police investigators and prosecutors from the Government Inspectorate of Viet Nam. The purpose of the training was to provide participants with basic financial investigation skills, money-laundering and international investigation techniques, and asset tracing and seizure experience.
The courses were the culmination of a collaboration that started six months ago between UNODC and the Ministry of Public Security's Investigation Police Department on Corruption-Related Crimes. The five-day courses took place in Hanoi from 4 to 8 May and Ho Chi Minh City from 10 to 14 May.
The training was conducted by Rick Reynolds, former British Police Officer, and Chris Batt, UNODC Regional Adviser on the Global Programme against Money-Laundering Regional for Cambodia, the Lao People's Democratic Republic and Viet Nam. Mr. Batt said that "money-laundering and corruption are activities often viewed in isolation but in practice they are almost always found to go hand in hand".
The courses consisted of both technical presentations and practical exercises. Participants were divided into four groups comprising a mix of police officers, government investigators and prosecutors. Each working group had to investigate a case scenario involving witness testimonies, exhibits, money trails, international enquiries, and the identification and seizure of stolen assets. At the end of the training, each group delivered a 40-minute presentation outlining their understanding of the criminal case at hand. They presented the offences they had identified, the individuals they wished to charge and any additional enquiries and resources they would like to have at their disposal in a real case.
Looking to the future, Mr. Batt expressed confidence that the relationship between UNODC and the Vietnamese authorities charged with investigating corruption and money-laundering would develop further as a result of the training. Mr. Batt also stated that "the contacts made between agencies during the training will benefit the future investigation and prosecution process of corruption and money-laundering offences in Viet Nam". Course evaluation questionnaires completed at the end of each course demonstrated a genuine increase in knowledge and skills among the participants.
