The 24th UNCAC Training Programme“Identifying, Tracing, Freezing, Seizing, Confiscating and Recovering Proceeds ofCorruption: Challenges and Solutions”
1. Duration and Participants From 2 to 28 November 2022
 30 overseas participants from 21 jurisdictions
 2 participants from Japan
2. Programme Overview
This programme mainly focused on the challenges that criminal justice practitioners
face in identifying, tracing, freezing, seizing, confiscating and recovering proceeds ofcorruption and asset recovery, and it explored solutions to those challenges. In particular,
the programme considered the following topics: (i) effective investigative techniques for
identifying and tracing proceeds of corruption in each jurisdiction, (ii) accurate andexpeditious preservation and secure confiscation of proceeds of corruption and (iii)international cooperation. Also, this programme, through lectures on best practices andthe participants’ discussions, aimed to enhance the participants’ knowledge of measures
to improve anti-corruption efforts in their respective jurisdictions and to establish a global
network for the exchange of updated information on the practices of the respectivejurisdictions.
3. Contents of the Programme(1) Lecturers
The following visiting experts from overseas and Japanese experts, as well as
UNAFEI faculty members, gave lectures as follows:

Visiting Experts-Mr. Federico Paesano
Senior Financial Investigation Specialist
Basel Institute on Governance-Mr. Tuomas Salminen
External Affairs Coordinator
Office of the Director, Division of External Operation, Registry
International Criminal Court-Ms. Vera Wang
External Affairs Coordinator
Office of the Director, Division of External Operation, Registry
International Criminal Court

Japanese Experts-Mr. SATO Takuma
Deputy Director of Second Investigation Division

Criminal Investigation Bureau
National Police Agency-Mr. YUKI Takeshi
Chief, Japan Financial Intelligence Center (JAFIC)
National Police Agency-Mr. ICHIKAWA Hiroshi
Public Prosecutor
Director of Special Investigation DivisionTokyo District Public Prosecutors Office-Mr. SEKI Yoshitaka
Public Prosecutor
Deputy Director of Public Security DivisionTokyo District Public Prosecutors Office(2) Individual Presentations
Participants shared the practices and the challenges in their respective
jurisdictions regarding the theme of the Programme through their individual
presentations. Materials of all presentations were uploaded online for later
reference by participants.
(3) Group Workshops
The participants were divided into three groups and exchanged their views andknowledge through discussions on topics: (i) effective investigative techniques for
identifying and tracing proceeds of corruption in each jurisdiction, (ii) accurate andexpeditious preservation and secure confiscation of proceeds of corruption, and(iii) international cooperation.
Regarding investigative techniques and preservation and confiscation, theparticipants mainly discussed measures to obtain information and evidence fromfinancial institutions and measures to preserve assets in accounts, such as freezing
accounts. Some participants pointed out that bank secrecy laws are often an
obstacle to investigation, and that it is often difficult to conduct expeditious andeffective identifying, tracing and preservation of the proceeds of corruption underlegal systems which require judicial scrutiny for these measures, especially in theearly stage of investigation, where sufficient evidence has not been collected topersuade judges. In this regard, the participants recommended the following
practices: establishing a legal framework which allows prosecutors to issuepreservation orders which are subject to judicial review, and encouraging financial
institutions to include consent-based provisions in consumer banking contracts
that permit the institutions to provide law enforcement authorities with accountrecords. In addition, the need for awareness-raising among the public as part ofpreventing corruption and protection of whistle-blowers were pointed out.
Regarding international cooperation, it was recognized that issues identifiedregarding topics (i) and (ii) may be obstacles to international cooperation such asmutual legal assistance. In addition, the general issues regarding international
cooperation are the delay or failure in responding to requests for mutual legal
assistance in investigations, the complexity of procedures, as well as lack of
information sharing on requirements for accepting such requests in respective
jurisdictions. As measures to promote international cooperation, the participants
were in favour of promoting information sharing and harmonization of legal
frameworks, informal information exchanges through various frameworks bothbilateral and multilateral, recognizing the necessity of collecting evidence incollaboration with foreign law enforcement authorities.
Each group concluded the programme by presenting their action plans basedon the challenges they identified and what they learned in the lectures,presentations by the fellow participants and discussions.
4. Feedback from the Participants
Most participants commented that the lectures, individual presentations and group
workshops helped them gain knowledge. On the other hand, some commented that it
would have been better if more specific information and best practices had been
exchanged. We appreciate all the feedback from the participants and take them into
consideration in planning our training programmes in future.
5. Comments from the Programming Officer
Combating corruption is an issue that all countries face, and asset recovery is anurgent issue throughout the world. I felt the enthusiasm of the participants in theprogramme by their active participation. The participants were highly interested in thelectures, presentations and group workshops, which led to active discussions. We hopethat the knowledge gained from this course will help the development and enhancementof each participant’s jurisdiction.
This programme was held in person for the first time since UNAFEI’s in-person
training courses were suspended due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In-person
communication throughout the programme made it easier for the participants tounderstand the content of the programme as well as to establish personal connections. We
hope that this personal network will contribute to preventing corruption and asset
recovery in the future.