Officers can seize illegal assets early in investigations
Financial investigations to identify and recover assets from economic crimes will be conducted under a joint national mechanism. This system will enable authorities to track and freeze suspicious assets from the initial phase of criminal investigations.
The Regulation for Conducting Parallel Financial Investigations in Criminal Cases Generating Economic Benefits was approved on August 13 by an inter-institutional order from the National Anti-Corruption Center (CNA), the Prosecutor General's Office, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Customs Service, and the State Tax Service.
This regulation outlines clear stages for assessing, initiating, planning, and documenting these investigations, as well as procedures for recording, reporting, and fostering cooperation among law enforcement institutions.
One of the main objectives of this new framework is to initiate financial investigations early, in parallel with the actual criminal prosecution. This approach enables authorities to proactively identify and seize assets obtained through illicit activities, preventing their concealment, transfer, or alienation. This creates the necessary conditions for effective confiscation and recovery of those assets.
Additionally, the regulation strengthens collaboration between the Asset Recovery Agency (ARBI) under the CNA, criminal prosecution bodies, and prosecutors by introducing unified mechanisms for recording and reporting results.
By implementing this framework, authorities aim to establish consistent practices at the national level and enhance efficiency in identifying, freezing, and recovering financial assets resulting from crimes.
