Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ZAGREB319
2006-03-09 14:26:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Zagreb
Cable title:
POLICE AND PROSECUTORS TO ESTABLISH
how-toVZCZCXRO3647 RR RUEHAG RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHVB #0319 0681426 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 091426Z MAR 06 FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5822 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS ZAGREB 000319
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KCRM HR
SUBJECT: POLICE AND PROSECUTORS TO ESTABLISH
INVESTIGATIVE TASK FORCE VS. ORGANIZED CRIME
UNCLAS ZAGREB 000319
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KCRM HR
SUBJECT: POLICE AND PROSECUTORS TO ESTABLISH
INVESTIGATIVE TASK FORCE VS. ORGANIZED CRIME
1. SUMMARY AND COMMENT: After months of
negotiations, the Ministry of Interior and the
Deputy Attorney General confirmed to Embassy
Zagreb's SEED-funded ICITAP (International
Criminal Investigative Training Assistance
Program) organized crime advisor March 8 their
firm plans to establish an investigative task
force. An agreement in late 2005 was delayed due
to a complete change in administration at the
Police Directorate. The new administration has
now committed to the project, and is very
enthusiastic. The case chosen will be one that
involves organized crime and/or corruption, with
a potential for identifying and seizing illegal
assets. Promoting the task force concept has
been a joint effort by ICITAP and the EU-funded
judicial twinning partner from Spain, who is an
experienced prosecutor assigned to advise USKOK
(the anti-organized crime division of the State
Attorney's Office) on organized crime
prosecutions. Standing up this task force
demonstrates good progress in Post's fundamental
ICITAP program goal of turning the police of
Croatia from responders into actors in the battle
against crime and corruption. END SUMMARY AND
COMMENT
2. The task force will consist of police
investigators from the organized crime section,
one or two prosecutors from USKOK, and
investigators from the financial crimes
investigative unit. The USKOK prosecutor will be
the liaison between the financial investigators
and the organized crime investigators, as they
are working for two separate ministries and
ministers.
This will be considered a "pilot project", and
the police will be mentored by ICITAP, while the
prosecutors will be mentored by the Spanish
adviser. All involved will meet continuously as
the case progresses, making suggestions on
methodology and investigative philosophy. The
goal will be to encourage the Croatians to
approach this case by targeting the entire
criminal enterprise. U.S. and Spanish advisors
will help them to identify past historical crimes
that were committed by the organization and its
members, and to locate their illegal assets.
The Croatian task force will learn how to prove a
connection between past criminal acts and
illegal proceeds, and will be encouraged to
proactively seize assets in an effort to shut
down the entire target criminal organization.
FRANK
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KCRM HR
SUBJECT: POLICE AND PROSECUTORS TO ESTABLISH
INVESTIGATIVE TASK FORCE VS. ORGANIZED CRIME
1. SUMMARY AND COMMENT: After months of
negotiations, the Ministry of Interior and the
Deputy Attorney General confirmed to Embassy
Zagreb's SEED-funded ICITAP (International
Criminal Investigative Training Assistance
Program) organized crime advisor March 8 their
firm plans to establish an investigative task
force. An agreement in late 2005 was delayed due
to a complete change in administration at the
Police Directorate. The new administration has
now committed to the project, and is very
enthusiastic. The case chosen will be one that
involves organized crime and/or corruption, with
a potential for identifying and seizing illegal
assets. Promoting the task force concept has
been a joint effort by ICITAP and the EU-funded
judicial twinning partner from Spain, who is an
experienced prosecutor assigned to advise USKOK
(the anti-organized crime division of the State
Attorney's Office) on organized crime
prosecutions. Standing up this task force
demonstrates good progress in Post's fundamental
ICITAP program goal of turning the police of
Croatia from responders into actors in the battle
against crime and corruption. END SUMMARY AND
COMMENT
2. The task force will consist of police
investigators from the organized crime section,
one or two prosecutors from USKOK, and
investigators from the financial crimes
investigative unit. The USKOK prosecutor will be
the liaison between the financial investigators
and the organized crime investigators, as they
are working for two separate ministries and
ministers.
This will be considered a "pilot project", and
the police will be mentored by ICITAP, while the
prosecutors will be mentored by the Spanish
adviser. All involved will meet continuously as
the case progresses, making suggestions on
methodology and investigative philosophy. The
goal will be to encourage the Croatians to
approach this case by targeting the entire
criminal enterprise. U.S. and Spanish advisors
will help them to identify past historical crimes
that were committed by the organization and its
members, and to locate their illegal assets.
The Croatian task force will learn how to prove a
connection between past criminal acts and
illegal proceeds, and will be encouraged to
proactively seize assets in an effort to shut
down the entire target criminal organization.
FRANK