HONG KONG: Attorney General and Public Prosecutor Datin Seri Paduka Nor Hashimah Muhammed Taib stressed the urgency of addressing money laundering and corruption in the digital age, during the plenary session of the 15th China-Asean Prosecutors-General Conference.
Brunei’s legal framework and national efforts were also highlighted, emphasising the importance of international cooperation, capacity-building and leveraging advanced technologies and regional networks for both crime prevention and prosecution.
The 15th China-Asean Prosecutors-General Conference, themed ‘Combating Money Laundering and Corruption, and Recovering Assets in the Technological Age’ was held on Tuesday (Sept 23) in Hong Kong, China.
The conference reinforced the importance of ongoing mutual exchanges of experiences, expertise and best practices to build a united front against these crimes.
At the opening session, Chief Executive of Hong Kong SAR John Lee Ka-chiu highlighted the evolving nature of financial crimes due to rapid technological advances and underscored the need for strong regional cooperation.
Prosecutor-General of the Supreme People’s Procuratorate of China Ying Yong acknowledged the importance of capacity building in combating such crimes and welcomed Asean prosecutors to receive training at Chinese prosecutorial institutes.
He echoed the crucial need for enhanced collaboration to combat money laundering, corruption and cross-border crimes in the digital age.
The conference was chaired by Secretary for Justice of the Hong Kong SAR Paul Lam Ting-kwok.
The heads of delegates acknowledged the increasing complexity of money laundering and corruption, aggravated by modern technological advancements which complicate investigation and prosecution efforts.
Datin Seri Paduka Nor Hashimah led a delegation of prosecutors from the Criminal Justice Division of the Attorney General’s Chambers at the conference. A key highlight of the conference was the launch of the revamped website of the China-Asean Prosecutors-General Conference, designed for a more efficient information exchange and cooperation among member states.
The conference concluded with the signing of a Joint Declaration by all delegation leaders from China and Asean member states.
The Declaration reaffirmed their mutual commitment to cooperation in sharing information and best practices, and outlined initiatives including exchanges, training programmes, study visits and other capacity-building activities to strengthen prosecutorial efforts across the region.
Following the conclusion of the formal sessions, the conference ended with an Anti-Money Laundering Seminar presented by Nadine Schwarz from the International Monetary Fund.
The China Asean Prosecutors-General Conference is an annual event which serves an important platform to discuss and share experience as well as best practices on matters of mutual interest and concern. It is a testament to the continued commitment of the parties to uphold the rule of law by strengthening regional cooperation and enhancing mutual understanding. - Borneo Bulletin/ANN
