ASSET FORFEITURE AND FINANCIAL INVESTIGATIONS

UNCLAS PARAMARIBO 000416

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPT FOR WHA/CAR LLUFTIG, INL/LP FOR NBOZZOLO, KBROWN
DEPT OF JUSTICE FOR OPDAT (ROBERT LIPMAN)
CARACAS FOR LEGATT

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KCRM SNAR ECON PGOV PREL NS
SUBJECT: ASSET FORFEITURE AND FINANCIAL INVESTIGATIONS
TRAINING A SUCCESS IN SURINAME



1. (SBU) Summary. Assistant U.S. attorney Leslie Westphal
and FBI special agent Joseph Boyer conducted an intensive
three-day workshop on utilizing asset forfeiture and
preparing financial prosecutions with Surinamese
prosecutors, investigators, and a legislative expert from
May 22-24. The workshop's small group atmosphere fostered
in-depth discussion with participants expressing
appreciation for the practical advice received. The
workshop was the first of three such trainings with the
next planned for the fall. The program's goals are to
assist Suriname in tapping into a potential source of
significant funding for the equipment needs of Suriname's
law enforcement agencies, enhance criminal deterrence by
depriving criminals of the fruits of their crimes, and
through sound financial investigation remove "working
capital" and other assets from criminals, thereby greatly
disrupting their ability to operate and expand in Suriname.
End Summary.




2. (SBU) Surinamese participants included Solicitor General
Roy Baidjnath Panday, Police Commissioner Krishna Mathoera,
who has oversight over financial investigations, three
public prosecutors, two financial investigators, and a
legislative expert from the Ministry of Justice and Police.
The program featured a reciprocal exchange of experiences
and insights, and served to sharpen the Surinamese
participants focus on asset forfeiture as a law enforcement
tool. Westphal and Boyer delivered advice on legislative
and procedural changes needed to ensure forfeited proceeds
benefit police and prosecutorial agencies in Suriname.
They also advised how Suriname could amend existing
legislation to allow the sale of assets prior to a final
judicial verdict to retain the value of the asset should it
eventually be forfeited. The workshop also covered
financial investigation best practices with tips on
following the financial trail of money launderers. There
were also opportunities to discuss U.S methods of storing
and maintaining seized assets and safeguarding of evidence,
crucial to any prosecution.


3. (SBU) The training used case studies to link theory with
practice. The inability of the Government of Suriname
(GOS) to benefit from seized aircraft took center stage.
Since 2000 the GOS has seized seven small airplanes, but
due to legislative gaps, a plodding judiciary, and
bureaucratic impediments, the aircraft sit rotting, unused
and unsold. In tackling this and other similar cases, the
participants, who often complained of limited resources and
insufficient legislation, were encouraged to 'think outside
the box' to develop ways around their obstacles. During
the training, participants began incorporating their notes
and conclusions into a comprehensive workbook on asset
forfeiture and financial prosecutions that will serve as a
useful reference tool after the workshop series concludes.

COMMENT


4. (SBU) Despite heavy workloads and busy schedules,
participants actively took part in the training with
genuine interest, giving positive feedback and voicing
their appreciation for the opportunity to consult with U.S.
experts. They expressed appreciation that the training was
not a one-time event, but was part of a string of planned
trainings on the topic. The ministerial legislative expert,
who also sits on a recently installed commission to examine
gaps in Suriname's asset forfeiture regime, said he now had
more tools to make an asset forfeiture framework suitable
for Suriname and will incorporate what he learned into his
commission's recommendations.

BARNES