Lao PDR’s State Inspection Authority Bolsters Financial Crime Investigation Capabilities with UNODC Training

Collaboration to Enhance Financial Crime Investigation Capacities in Lao PDR

From December 5-9, 2022, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Regional Office for South-East Asia and the Pacific (ROSEAP) collaborated with Lao PDR’s State Inspection Authority (SIA) to conduct a five-day Financial Crime Investigation Training at Vientiane’s Crowne Plaza Hotel.

Addressing Capacity Deficiencies in Financial Crime Investigations

The primary objective of the training was to address identified deficiencies in the investigative capabilities of the SIA, as determined during a previous training needs analysis. Thirty-six representatives from twelve relevant government agencies attended the workshop. Those departments included the Ministry of Public Security (MoPS), Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), Ministry of Justice (MoJ), Ministry of Planning and Investment, Ministry of Industry and Commerce, National Assembly, The Office of the Supreme People’s Prosecutor (OSPP), The People’s Supreme Court, State Audit Organization, Anti-Money Laundering Intelligence Office (AMLIO), Bank of Lao PDR (BOL), and The President’s Office.

Practical Exercises Enhance Investigative Abilities

Throughout the workshops, participants engaged in practical exercises, fostering collaboration and devising strategies to enhance their ability to detect, investigate, and disrupt illegal financial flows linked to corruption. The training program covered essential elements of financial crime investigations, including bribery and corruption techniques, money laundering typologies, investigation strategies, and management. The SIA provided a half-day presentation on investigative and anti-corruption methods.

Collaborative Learning through Shared Expertise

Active participation was instrumental in the success of the training. Attendees shared their expertise and knowledge. One such exercise saw participants tackling different elements of a corruption investigation. Following the training’s conclusion, participants presented their findings and plans for conducting financial crime investigations going forward. Consequently, participants gained a thorough understanding of investigative techniques relating to corruption and money laundering.

Broader Ongoing Anti-Corruption Efforts

This Financial Crime Investigation Workshop represents one facet of the broader ongoing efforts to strengthen anti-corruption systems in nine Southeast Asian countries, including Lao PDR. This interconnected network consolidates anti-corruption authorities, oversight institutions, and procurement bodies. Its goal is to increase transparency within public institutions, bolster whistle-blower protection, and effectively tackle national anti-corruption challenges.

Supporting the Training from the Government of the Republic of Korea

This training was made possible by the support from the Ministry of Justice of the Government of the Republic of Korea.