From 3 to 5 December 2018, around 80 experts specialized in investigating and prosecuting corruption involving vast quantities of assets coming from nearly 40 countries from all over the world met in Lima for a Global Expert Group Meeting on Corruption involving Vast Quantities of Assets. The Expert Group Meeting took place in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Peru and ended with a ceremony celebrating the 15th anniversary of the United Nations Convention against Corruption ("the Convention"), in the presence of H.E. Mr. Néstor Popolizio Bardales, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Peru, and under the auspices of H.E. Mr. Martín Vizcarra Cornejo, President of the Republic of Peru, as part of the Anti-Corruption Day celebrations.
The Expert Group Meeting sought to further the implementation of resolution 7/2 of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention, adopted in November 2017. The Expert Group Meeting aimed specifically to:
(1) share lessons learned from the investigation of corruption cases involving vast quantities of assets, notably in terms of challenges and best practices;
(2) consider the impact of corruption involving vast quantities of assets on security, the environment and the enjoyment of human rights; and
(3) start identifying good practices to tackle corruption involving vast quantities of assets effectively, notably through criminal and civil measures and remedies to enhance international cooperation and asset recovery and the identification of beneficial owners of corporate vehicles abused in such corruption cases.
Opening Ceremony
Welcome remarks:
• Mr. Kristian Hoelge, Representative, UNODC Peru
• H.E.Ms. Marianne Hagen, State Secretary, Norway
Tour de table - Facilitator: Mr. Samuel De Jaegere, Anti-Corruption Advisor, UNODC
Introductory Session
In this session, the topic of corruption involving vast quantities of assets was introduced. The session looked back at resolution 7/2 adopted at the UNCAC Conference of States Parties in November 2017. The session also provided an oversight of corruption cases involving vast quantities of assets compiled by UNODC with support from the StAR initiative. Finally, UNODC’s shared a tentative analysis of best practices as a follow-up to resolution 7/2.
Moderator: Ms. Susana Silva Hasembank, Secretary of Public Integrity and General Coordinator of High-Level Commission on Anti-Corruption, Peru
Panellists: H.E.Ambasador Eric Anderson Machado (Peru); Mr. Mats Benestad (Norway); Ms. Solvej Krause (StAR); Ms. Stefanie Holling (UNODC)
Presentations:
Ms. Solvej Krause, Analysis of international Corruption cases, common elements and initial findings
Politically exposed persons & corruption involving vast quantities of assets – Case studies
In this session, experts discussed corruption cases involving vast quantities of assets that implicated high-level office holders. Each of the speakers presented a brief overview of a case and the lessons learned in terms of prevention and law enforcement. After the presentations, the session was opened for discussion.
Moderator: Ms. Brigitte Strobel-Shaw, Chief, Conference Support Section, UNODC
Panellists: Mr. Shukri Abdull (Malaysia); Mr. Manuel Cruz Lopez (El Salvador); Mr. Yvan Montoya and Mr. Walter Albán(Peru); Mr. Filipenko Artem and Ms. Olha Lazutina (Ukraine); Ms. Molly Silver (StAR)
Presentations:
Mr. Shukri Abdull, 1 Malaysia Development Berhad(1MDB) Scandal
Mr. ManuelCruz Lopez, Corruption Cases involving former Presidents in El Salvador
Mr. Walter Albán, The Fujimori-Montesinos Case
Ms. Molly Silver, Corruption Cases Involving Vast Quantities of Assets
Financial institutions & corruption involving vast quantities of assets – Case studies
In this session, experts discussed corruption cases involving vast quantities of assets that concerned financial institutions. Each of the speakers presented a brief overview of a case and the lessons learned in terms of prevention and law enforcement. After the presentations, the session was opened for discussion.
Moderator: Mr. Frederic Raffray, Crown Advocate, Guernsey
Panellists: Mr. Matei Dohoratu (World Bank); Mr. John Sopko (USA); Mr. Victor Samuel Chiwala (Malawi); Mr. Daniel Linares(Peru); Mr. Ceferino Alvarez-Rodriguez (Belgium); Ms. Solvej Krause (StAR)
Presentations:
Mr. Victor Samuel Chiwala, Case Gate Scandal in Malawi
Mr. Ceferino Alvarez-Rodriguez, Sonya Case
Ms. Solvej Krause, Financial Institutions and Corruption involving VQA
Risks, challenges and opportunities in handling corruption cases involving vast quantities of assets – Case studies
In this session, speakers discussed corruption cases involving vast quantities of assets and the risks, challenges and opportunities involved in their investigation, prosecution and asset recovery. Each of the speakers presented a brief overview of a case and the lessons learned in terms of prevention and law enforcement. After the presentations, the session was opened for discussion.
Moderator: Mr. Jose M. Balmeo Jr., Assistant Ombudsman, Philippines
Panellists: Mr. Mohamed Abdelaziz (Egypt); Mr. Ariawan Agustiartono (Indonesia); Mr. Denis Kunev (Russian Federation); Ms. Bukola Banjoko (Nigeria); Ms. Molly Silver (StAR)
Presentations:
Mr. Jose M. Balmeo, Cases from the Philippines
Successful enforcement against corruption involving vast quantities of assets – international cooperation
In this session, experts discussed successful enforcement measures, i.e. investigations, prosecutions and/or convictions, of those involved in corruption involving vast quantities of assets. Examples were provided from various countries focusing on the best practices in terms of international cooperation leading to successful enforcement action. The session discussed successful actions undertaken to trace assets and recover them in cases involving vast quantities of assets. After the presentations, the session was opened for discussion.
Moderator: Ms. Lillian Ekeanyanwu, Head, Technical Unit on Governance and Anti-Corruption Reforms, Nigeria
Panellists: Mr. Daniel Claman (USA); Mr. Fabio De Pasquale (Italy); Mr. Yitzchak Blum (Israel); Ms. Ana Cristina Bandeira Lins (Brazil); Mr. Oscar Solorzano (ICAR)
Presentations:
Mr. Daniel Claman, Recovering proceeds of kleptocracy
Ms. Ana Cristina Bandeira Lins, Car Wash (Lava Jato)
Mr. Oscar Solorzano, Asset recovery
The impact of corruption on peace and security
In this session, experts discussed the impact of corruption involving vast quantities of assets on peace and security efforts around the world. The speakers analysed how corruption in the security and defence sector and corruption in natural resource extraction affected peace and security. After the presentations, the session was opened for discussion.
Moderator: Mr. Samuel De Jaegere, Anti-Corruption Advisor, UNODC
Panellists: Mr. John Sopko (USA); Mr. Bolaji Owasanoye (Nigeria); Ms. Debra LaPrevotte (The Sentry); Mr. Mark Pyman (CurbingCorruption.com)
Presentations:
Mr. Bolaji Owasanoye, Impact of Corruption involving VQA on Peace and Security - View from Nigeria
Mr. Mark Pyman, Corruption Security and Peace
The impact of corruption on organized crime and the enjoyment of human rights
In this session, experts discussed the impact of corruption involving vast quantities of assets in terms of the enjoyment of human rights and economic well-being. The speakers also focused on the links between organized crime, corruption involving fast quantities of assets and insecurity. One speaker also presented the OCCRP investigative dashboard. After the presentations, the session was opened for discussion.
Moderator: Mr. Peter Gastrow, Senior Advisor, Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime
Panellists: Mr. Nikhil Dey (Workers and Peasants Strength Union); Mr. Ronald Víquez Solís (Costa Rica), Mr. Nathan Jaccard (OCCRP)
Presentations:
Mr. Nikhil Dey, Workers and Peasants Strength Union
Mr. Nathan Jaccard, Organized Crime and Reporting Project
The impact of corruption on the environment
In this session, experts discussed the human cost of corruption involving vast quantities of assets in terms of the destruction of the environment and biodiversity, as well as its contribution to climate change. After the presentations, the session was opened for discussion.
Moderator: Mr. Mats Benestad, First Secretary, Embassy of Norway to the International Organizations in Vienna
Panellists: Mr. Razafimandimby Tsiry (Madagascar); Ms. Olivia Swaak-Goldman (Wildlife Justice Commission); Mr. Vincent Opyene (Uganda); Ms. Lela Stanley (Global Witness)
Presentations:
Mr. Razafimandimby Tsiry, Impacts of Grand Corruption on the Environment - Malagasy Experience
Mr. Vincent Opyene, Corruption in the Wildlife Trade Licensing, A Case Study of Uganda: The Pangolin Scale Scandal
Ms. Lela Stanley, Selling off the earth: Case studies in corruption and environmental abuse
Successful prevention of corruption involving vast quantities of assets
In this session, experts discussed successful prevention measures undertaken to prevent corruption involving vast quantities of assets, based on practical experience with cases of corruption, as well as an analysis of good practices. After the presentations, the session was opened for discussion.
Moderator: Ms. Gladwell Otieno, Executive Director, Africa Center for Open Governance
Panellists: Mr. Allan Wagner Tizón (Peru); Ms. Linn Anker Søreson (Norway); Mr. Fabiano Angelico (Transparency International Brazil); Mr. Clark Gascoigne (FACT Coalition); Mr. Bruno Galizzi (FIBGAR); Mr. Denis Shulgin (Russian Federation)
Presentations:
Mr. Allan Wagner Tizón, Peru - Judicial Reforms
Ms. Linn Anker Søreson, Transparent beneficial owners-remaining challenges and potential solutions
Mr. Fabiano Angelico, Does Corruption Live Next Door?
Mr. Clark Gascoigne, Beneficial Ownership Transparency Efforts in the US. Disclosure is Curbing Dirty Money in Real Estate and Full Transparency Legislation is Progressing.
Mr. Bruno Galizzi , Whistleblowing as a tool to fight and prevent corruption - European experience
Presentation of main outcomes and next steps
Moderators: Ms. Brigitte Strobel Shaw, Chief, Conference Support Section, Corruption and Economic Crime Branch, UNODC
Rapporteurs: Mr. Samuel De Jaegere, Anti-Corruption Advisor, CEB, UNODC
Closing remarks
• Ms. Brigitte Strobel Shaw, Chief, Conference Support Section, Corruption and Economic Crime Branch, UNODC
• Ms. Betzy Marie Ellingsen Tunold, Policy Director, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Norway
• Ambassador Marco Balarezo Lizarzaburu, General Director for Multilateral and Political Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Peru
