This book captures the legal and practical challenges of mutual legal assistance and extradition, as well as solutions for improvement, discussed during a March 2006 training seminar in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Experts from 26 Asia-Pacific countries ...

Development efforts will remain frustrated so long as corrupt leaders continue to steal their countries' wealth and dispose of these ill-gotten gains in foreign jurisdictions. The prevention of such looting, and the recovery of the stolen assets are thus critical development issues and a cornerstone of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (2003) (UNCAC). However, to date experience with asset recovery is limited, and a number of legal and other obstacles continue to impede progress. This is the first comprehensive work on asset recovery, written by renowned practitioners and academics representing different legal systems and countries, all of whom have extensive experience in the asset recovery field. The authors notably discuss the 'success stories' of the past (the recovery of the assets of Sani Abacha, Ferdinand Marcos and Vladimiro Montesinos) and the concrete challenges for the future with regard to search, seizure, confiscation and repatriation of stolen assets. The book also provides perspectives on the role of technical assistance and donors in asset recovery and the likely impact of the UNCAC.

Much of the devastation caused by the recent earthquake in Turkey was the result of widespread corruption between the construction industry and government officials. Corruption is part of everyday public life and we tend to take it for granted. However, preventing corruption helps to raise city revenues, improve service delivery, stimulate public confidence and participation, and win elections. This book is designed to help citizens and public officials diagnose, investigate and prevent various kinds of corrupt and illicit behaviour. It focuses on systematic corruption rather than the free-lance activity of a few law-breakers, and emphasises practical preventive measures rather than purely punitive or moralistic campaigns.

Despite broad international recognition of the criminalization of illicit enrichment, it has not been universally accepted as an anti-corruption measure. Instead, criminalization of illicit enrichment continues to generate extensive debate and controversy. Against this background, this volume aims to provide an analysis of how illicit enrichment works, and attempts to shed light on any contributions that it has made to the fight against corruption and the recovery of stolen assets. Rather than delving into the theoretical and academic debates around illicit enrichment, this study focuses primarily on the analysis of current practice, case law, and existing literature to offer a new perspective to the on-going discussions. More specifically, the volume addresses the legal framework upon which the concept of illicit enrichment rests, and the resulting policy implications of that legal framework. It also focuses on illicit enrichment as an anti-corruption mechanism, from its roots as a response to the problems inherent to prosecutions involving corruption, to an examination of elements and inchoate offenses relating to illicit enrichment under international conventions. It examines illicit enrichment jurisprudence in the global context. An extensive survey was carried out to determine the countries where the offense exists, what form it takes, how often it is used, and for countries where it doesn't, what other measures are used in its place. The authors neither recommend nor oppose the adoption of illicit enrichment provisions, but rather aim to assist jurisdictions considering such steps by highlighting key questions that might arise during implementation, including how the offense is defined and enforced domestically by States. Similarly, the authors do not endorse nor criticize any practice carried out by States in the implementation of the criminalization of illicit enrichment. Ultimately, it is also hoped that this study provides a basis for further discussion amongst policy makers and practitioners, and fuels upcoming discussions by the Conference of State parties of the UNCAC and its Working Groups

This report examines the use of these entities in nearly all cases of corruption. It builds upon case law, interviews with investigators, corporate registries and financial institutions and a 'mystery shopping' exercise to provide evidence of this criminal practice.

Identifies the major weaknesses in the current United Nations system and proposes fundamental reforms to address each. This title is also available as Open Access.

Developing countries lose billions each year through bribery, misappropriation of funds, and other corrupt practices. Much of the proceeds of this corruption find 'safe haven' in the world's financial centers. These criminal flows are a drain on social services and economic development programs, contributing to the impoverishment of the world's poorest countries. Many developing countries have already sought to recover stolen assets. A number of successful high-profile cases with creative international cooperation has demonstrated that asset recovery is possible. However, it is highly complex, involving coordination and collaboration with domestic agencies and ministries in multiple jurisdictions, as well as the capacity to trace and secure assets and pursue various legal options—whether criminal confiscation, non-conviction based confiscation, civil actions, or other alternatives. This process can be overwhelming for even the most experienced practitioners. It is exceptionally difficult for those working in the context of failed states, widespread corruption, or limited resources. With this in mind, the Stolen Asset Recovery (StAR) Initiative has developed and updated this Asset Recovery Handbook: A Guide for Practitioners to assist those grappling with the strategic, organizational, investigative, and legal challenges of recovering stolen assets. A practitioner-led project, the Handbook provides common approaches to recovering stolen assets located in foreign jurisdictions, identifies the challenges that practitioners are likely to encounter, and introduces good practices. It includes examples of tools that can be used by practitioners, such as sample intelligence reports, applications for court orders, and mutual legal assistance requests. StAR—the Stolen Asset Recovery Initiative—is a partnership between the World Bank Group and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime that supports international efforts to end safe havens for corrupt funds. StAR works with developing countries and financial centers to prevent the laundering of the proceeds of corruption and to facilitate more systematic and timely return of stolen assets.