Pristina hosts two-day workshop on financial investigations and the fight against money laundering

The Office of the Chief State Prosecutor, together with UNODC, UNDP and the Basel Institute, held the first day of a two-day workshop in Pristina on Thursday, titled “Peer exchange on financial investigations, confiscation in corruption cases and the functions of the Asset Recovery Office.”

The activity, scheduled for September 3 and 4, aims to improve institutional and international cooperation in the financial investigation, identification, seizure, confiscation and recovery of assets acquired in violation of the law.

Representatives of partner institutions and organizations attended the opening of the workshop, including Chief State Prosecutor Zejnullah Gashi and UNODC Regional Representative for Southeast Europe Danilo Rizzi.

Participants on the first day also included Bahri Hyseni, Head of the Asset Recovery Office and prosecutor at the Office of the Chief State Prosecutor; Blerim Isufaj, Chief Prosecutor of the Special Prosecution Office; and the chief prosecutors of the basic prosecution offices.

The topics addressed during the sessions included financial investigations in corruption cases, corruption in the public sector and the prosecution of money laundering as a separate criminal offense.

The discussions were accompanied by presentations of concrete cases and international practices relating to public funds, abuse of official duty and public enterprises. The experiences were presented by representatives of Kosovo, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Representatives of Albania’s Special Prosecution Office (SPAK), Kosovo’s Special Prosecution Office and the Office of the Cantonal Prosecutor of the Sarajevo Canton also contributed to the workshop.

The first day concluded with discussions, questions and answers based on concrete cases. Participants shared their professional experiences and analyzed the practical difficulties that arise during financial investigations, corruption proceedings and money-laundering cases.

The organizers said that the workshop aims to strengthen professional capacities, promote good practices and deepen cooperation at the local, regional and international levels in order to increase the effectiveness of financial investigations, confiscation and the recovery of assets obtained unlawfully.