High ranking public officials from 6 central provinces, namely the Offices of the Supreme People’s Prosecutor, People’s Courts, Ministry of Public Security and the Lao Bar Association, gathered in Thakhek, Khammouane province from 13 to 15 of October for the second regional conference of OSPP and ILSTA on “Combating transnational organized crime with a focus on money laundering, human trafficking and mutual legal assistance”.
This second regional conference of 2020 was co-chaired by Mr Bounyoung Chandalasane, Deputy Prosecutor General of OSPP and Mr Richard Philippart, President of ILSTA. Mr Bounyang Chandalasane noted that “Organized crime, especially money laundering, poses a challenge to the national and global economic development. In this globalization era, criminal groups have been seeking every way to intervene in the economic system and bring benefits to themselves. The matters of human trafficking and money laundering are familiar issues in the Lao PDR, which implies necessity in developing the existing legislation focusing on these crimes. The Lao PDR has achieved the enactment of the Law on Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism and other related legislation which the authorities can base on in the prosecutions and convictions.”
Richard Philippart, President of ILSTA, highlighted that “Combating organised crime requires active international cooperation, cross-sector intelligence exchanges and modern investigation techniques. Government authorities need to adapt fast and build channels to exchange information. Mutual Legal Assistance is crucial for investigation, prosecution, adjudication, therefore we encourage the early adoption of the Lao Mutual Legal Assistance Law. As a partner of the Lao Government ILSTA will continue its support for these important efforts.”
A number of presentations and group activities on money laundering, anti-human trafficking activities and evidence in criminal cases were led by experts from ILSTA, Ministry of Public Security and the Office of Supreme People’s Prosecutor. Another conference with a similar focus will also be organised in the southern province in the next months. The nationwide campaign is supported by the Ministry of Finance of Luxembourg and Luxembourg Aid and Development.
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