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Financial Profiling and Financial Investigations Workshop: From April 3 - 4, 2007, the Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training (OPDAT) conducted a workshop for prosecutors, investigators, and police on financial profiling and financial investigations in Bourgas, Bulgaria. This is the last of a series of three regional workshops encouraging law enforcement to focus on dismantling human trafficking rings by going after their money and assets. The Resident Legal Advisor (RLA) to Bulgaria, an Organized Crime and Racketeering Section Trial Attorney, and a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Special Agent participated in the program.

Program on Plea Bargaining in Serbia: During the week of March 26, 2007, OPDAT conducted three one-day programs on plea bargaining in Belgrade and Sabac, Serbia. In June 2006, the Republic of Serbia adopted a new Criminal Procedure Code, the majority of whose provisions will enter into force on June 1, 2007. One of the major changes is the introduction of plea bargaining, which has never been used before in Serbia. To prepare prosecutors and judges to use plea bargaining effectively, the OPDAT Resident Legal Advisor to Serbia, in partnership with the Serbian Judicial Training Center, organized a series of plea bargaining conferences to be held throughout the country. This was the third such training.

Intellectual Property Rights Program in Russia: On March 22-23, 2007, an OPDAT RLA to Russia participated in program in Yekaterinburg, Russia, on problems in criminal enforcement of intellectual property rights (IPR), organized by Microsoft and the US Consulate in Yekaterinburg. The conference, which was attended by prosecutors, investigators, and industry representatives from throughout the Urals region, revealed that one of the main obstacles facing Russian prosecutors is obtaining expert analysis of counterfeit products in a timely manner. Improving expert analysis and coordination of work between experts and investigators will be a key focus of OPDAT’s future programs on IPR.

First Ever Judicial Conference Held in Tikrit, Iraq: On March 14, 2007, OPDAT conducted a provincial judicial conference in Saddam Hussein’s home town of Tikrit. This was the first judicial conference held in Tikrit since the fall of the former regime. Judges, prosecutors, and police officials from towns throughout Salah ad Din province gathered to identify and formulate solutions for problems affecting the judicial sector in the province. Conference attendees supported the establishment of a Central Criminal Court of Iraq panel in the province to adjudicate terrorist cases.

Trial Advocacy Programs in Colombia: From March 13 - 24, 2007, the Justice Sector Reform Program Manager (JSRP) and OPDAT RLA to Colombia conducted two simultaneous criminal trial advocacy programs in Barranquilla, Colombia, for Colombian prosecutors and investigators. They were joined by two Assistant US Attorneys (AUSAs) and a Narcotics and Dangerous Drug Section Trial Attorney, who assisted with the presentation of oral advocacy skills training, demonstrations, and practical exercises. This program is part of the US Justice Department’s ongoing assistance to Colombia as it continues its transition to an adversarial criminal justice system. By the close of FY 2006, 50,441 Colombian prosecutors, investigators, and judges had received trial advocacy skills development assistance.

Program on Investigating and Prosecuting Complex Financial Crimes in Nicaragua: On March 13-15, 2007, the OPDAT Resident Legal Advisor to Nicaragua conducted a program in Managua on best practices for investigating and prosecuting complex financial crimes in Nicaragua for a group of Nicaraguan prosecutors, police investigators, representatives from the Superintendency of Banks, and legislative assistants from the National Assembly working on justice sector reforms. The goal of the program was to assess the existing legal framework for these types of crimes, and to work with the Nicaraguans to develop a procedural manual or handbook of best practices on how to investigate and prosecute financial and corruption related crimes. Assisting the RLA were an OPDAT Program Manager and a FBI Special Agent.

US-Based Study Tour on Election Fraud Related Corruption for Delegation From Armenia: From March 10-17, 2007, OPDAT conducted a US-based study tour in Washington, DC, and Charleston, WV, for an Armenian delegation of six prosecutors and two Central Election Committee officials on how to detect, investigate, prosecute and prevent election fraud and related corruption. This was a follow-up to a seminar conducted in Yerevan, Armenia, February 27- March 1, on election fraud and related corruption for Armenian police, prosecutors, and election officials. The purpose of both programs was to assist Armenia in building capacity for free and fair parliamentary elections, which are scheduled to take place in May.

Trial Advocacy Train the Trainer Program in Dominican Republic: From March 5 - 9, 2007, OPDAT conducted a trial advocacy train-the-trainers program for Dominican prosecutors at the Public Ministry School (Dominican Republic’s training facility for prosecutors) in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The goal of this program is to share basic trial advocacy instructional skills and tools with the Dominicans and encourage them to create their own course syllabus, objectives and best practices. Since April 2006, OPDAT has implemented a total of six trial advocacy courses and trained 325 prosecutors in the Dominican Republic.

Criminal Division and United Nations Officials Participate in Conference in Vienna, Austria, on Cooperation in Combatting Terrorism, Corruption and Transnational Organized Crime: On March 4–8, 2007, OPDAT and the International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program (ICITAP) joined forces with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to conduct a conference in Vienna, Austria, on international legal frameworks for combatting terrorism, corruption, and transnational organized crime. Sixty-two managers from the field and headquarters, including the Director of OPDAT, Acting Director of ICITAP, and Chief of International Development and Training Programs, participated, providing a unique opportunity for sharing best practices, as well as discussions regarding future collaboration. Representatives from several international organizations, such as the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, also participated in the conference. The conference opened with remarks by a Deputy Assistant Attorney General to the Criminal Division and the Ambassador to the US Mission to International Organizations in Vienna.

Regional Program on Combating Transnational Organized Crime in Eurasia: From February 26 - March 2, 2007, OPDAT conducted a regional program on combating transnational organized crime in Eurasia at the International Law Enforcement Academy in Budapest, Hungry, for prosecutors and investigators from Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, and Ukraine. The program addressed the increasing capacity of criminal organizations to operate in multiple jurisdictions and across national borders, and the legal challenges this presents for law enforcement. Particular attention was given to the increasing use of “shell” corporations by organized crime groups and the need to provide law enforcement with adequate tools to track such information across borders.

Financial Crimes Program in Amman, Jordan: From February 25 - March 1, 2007, OPDAT in partnership with the Department of Treasury Office of Technical Assistance, conducted a seminar in Amman, Jordan, on investigating and prosecuting financial crimes for Jordanian government officials. The purpose was to provide integrated and comprehensive training on money laundering and terrorist financing to all sectors of the Jordanian government that have responsibilities in these areas. Topics included the promotion of joint task forces, role and function of an Financial Intelligence Unit, tension between criminal investigation and intelligence gathering, safeguarding charities from abuse, asset forfeiture, and financial investigation techniques. Presentations were made by the OPDAT Resident Legal Advisor to the United Arab Emirates, Head of the Terrorist Financing Unit, and an Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Section Attorney.

Criminal Procedure Code Reform and Laying the Groundwork for a Millennium Challenge Corporation Program in Ukraine: From February 16-19, 2007, OPDAT provided assistance to the four-member Ukrainian Criminal Procedure Code Working Group drafting a new criminal procedure code. The OPDAT Resident Legal Advisor to Ukraine and OPDAT Eurasia Acting Regional Director joined the working group in Cherkasy, Ukraine, to review unresolved draft code issues such as the distinction between “public and private” crimes, prosecutorial discretion to begin or end a case, and the degree to which a victim will be compensated.

Money Laundering and Organized Crime Program in South Africa: On February 12 – 16, 2007, OPDAT conducted a program on money laundering and organized crime in Johannesburg, South Africa for approximately 115 participants from the South African Police Service and National Prosecuting Authority. Topics included coordination between police and prosecutors; witness protection; crime participants as witnesses; international cooperation; and a review of the South African money laundering statute in terms of subpoena authority, bank reporting requirements, and roles of estate agents and transferring attorneys.

Anti-Gangs Program in El Salvador: In support of the Attorney General’s gang initiative, OPDAT, in conjunction with the International Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA), conducted a one week anti-gangs program in San Salvador, El Salvador from January 29 – February 2, 2007. The purpose was to increase cooperation and collaboration across borders between law enforcement officials from the United States and five target countries in Central America: Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico and Panama. There were a total of 46 prosecutors, police investigators, intelligence officials (from the police and prisons), prevention/rehabilitation/corrections officers, and customs/border officials from the five target countries. The conference addressed topics ranging from gangs investigations, intelligence gathering, prosecutions, and rehabilitation and reinsertion of gang members into society. In addition to panel discussions and individual presentations, the program included several case studies of gang investigations and prosecutions in each of the target countries as well as the United States. This was the second in a series of three anti-gang programs undertaken by the OPDAT; the first took place September 18-29, 2006, in El Salvador, and the third is scheduled for June 2007.

Basic Trial Advocacy Program in Jakarta, Indonesia: From January 29-February 2, 2007, OPDAT, in coordination with the Indonesian Attorney General's Office, conducted an intensive trial advocacy training program in Jakarta, Indonesia, for mid-level Indonesian prosecutors, representing each of Indonesia's provinces from Aceh to Papua. Using a translated version of the Kass hypothetical case central to the Criminal Trial Advocacy Seminar taught at the National Advocacy Center, Columbia, South Carolina, US and Indonesian instructors provided lectures and demonstrations on opening statements, direct and cross examination of witnesses, use of exhibits, and closing statements; participants then practiced these skills in small group sessions with instructor critique and videotaping. Participants also received information on witness and trial preparation, plea bargaining, electronic evidence, expert witnesses, and police/prosecutor cooperation. The highlight of the program were the mock trials on the last day, when the Indonesian participants demonstrated their ability to “convict” or “defend” James Kass.

Intellectual Property Program in Guatemala: From January 28 - February 1, 2007, OPDAT, in partnership with the US Embassy in Guatemala, conducted a workshop in Guatemala City to enhance the ability of Guatemalan prosecutors, investigators, and judges to address intellectual property (IP) crimes. Workshop attendees developed a “handbook” for investigating and prosecuting IP related crime, including standardized points of contact, investigation reports, and petitions for warrants. An OPDAT Program Manager and US Federal Trade Commission Attorney participated in the program.

Program on Legislative Tools to Combat the PKK in Turkey: On January 25-26, 2007, the OPDAT Resident Legal Advisor to Turkey conducted a program in Istanbul, Turkey on legislative tools to combat the PKK (Kurdistan Workers’ Party, an armed militant group whose aim is to create an independent Kurdish state). Participants included the Deputy Chief Public Prosecutors of the eight Turkish cities where Turks have courts that deal with terror and organized crimes as well as four Turkish judicial representatives. The program brought the Turks together with their European counterparts from the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. The purpose was to have all the parties present discuss the legislative tools available in their countries to combat the PKK.

Regional Transnational Crime Task Force Training in Indonesia: On January 23-24, 2007, the OPDAT Resident Legal Advisor to Indonesia and the Indonesian Attorney General’s Terrorism and Transnational Crime Task Force conducted the first regional training for local prosecutors in Palembang, Sumatra. The program addressed the Task Force’s four priorities --terrorism, money laundering, trafficking in persons, and cybercrime – while building relationships between the members of the Task Force and the prosecutors in the field.

Regional Witness Security Program for Six Eurasian Countries in Budapest, Hungary: From January 22-26, 2007, OPDAT conducted a program on witness security and protection for prosecutors, law enforcement, and legislators from six countries (Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Romania, Russia, and Ukraine) in Eastern Europe and Eurasia that are key players in fighting transnational crimes. The program, which was held at the International Law Enforcement Academy, Budapest, Hungary, addressed the creation of protection programs in small, formerly communist countries, witness protection efforts involving transnational cooperation, and victim-witness issues relating to human trafficking. Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Program in Bangladesh: On January 21, 2007, the OPDAT Resident Legal Advisor to Bangladesh met in Dhaka, Bangladesh, with four members of Bangladesh’s Central Bank and four police investigators, who comprise Bangladesh’s money laundering and terrorist financing task force. This meeting was a follow up to the January 10, 2007 task force seminar conducted by the RLA to address how suspicious transactions reports would be handled by the task force. This meeting was part of the ongoing efforts by the RLA to enhance the task force’s ability to effectively investigate and prosecute money laundering and terrorist financing cases.

Antigua – Financial Crimes Mentoring Program: On January 15-18, 2007, OPDAT conducted the second phase of a mentoring program for Antiguan financial investigators, intelligence analysts, and attorneys in St. George’s, Antigua . The program was designed to enhance the ability of Antiguan law enforcement to investigate and prosecute financial crimes. During the first phase of the workshop, held in October 2006, the participants developed a draft of a best practices handbook for financial investigations and prosecutions. The second phase focused on practical exercises.

Trial Advocacy and Skills Program for Russian Prosecutors in Moscow: From December 11-15, 2006, the OPDAT Resident Legal Advisor to Russia conducted a trial advocacy and skills program for about 90 mid- and senior-level Russian prosecutors from all over the country in conjunction with the Russian Procuracy Training Institute in Moscow. It included practice in opening statements, direct examination, cross examination, and closing statements, and culminate in a mock trial using a Russian case study. In Russia, the introduction of jury trials three years ago created new challenges for the country’s prosecutors. As a result, OPDAT has been working closely with Russian prosecutors to perfect the kind of advocacy and trial skills needed to be persuasive before juries.