Moldova and Swiss Experts Discuss Recovery of Criminal Assets

The Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office discussed the recovery of criminal assets with experts from Switzerland

The Chief Prosecutor of the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office, Marcel Dumbravan, and his deputy, Ina Frunza-Bargan, held a meeting with representatives of the Basel Institute on Governance, who are in Moldova on a working visit. The parties discussed the results of the CRESTA project and further cooperation in the field of the confiscation and recovery of criminally obtained assets.

Add Logos Press as a preferred source on Google

Also attending the meeting were CRESTA project manager Lala Zinchevici, head of the legal department at the International Centre for Asset Recovery (ICAR) Jonathan Spicer, ICAR senior specialist David Mattan and project programme officer Corina Pavlișciuc.

According to the agency, one of the main topics was the need to adapt the project’s implementation approach in light of the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office’s new powers. Legislative amendments have granted the office the right to conduct criminal prosecutions in cases investigated by the National Anti-Corruption Centre.

The meeting participants discussed how to utilise CRESTA’s expert support in light of these new institutional tasks. In particular, they discussed improving mechanisms for identifying, tracing, confiscating and recovering assets acquired through criminal means.

Particular attention was paid to enhancing the professional skills of prosecutors, exchanging expertise, and developing cooperation between agencies and international partners.

The CRESTA project – ‘Support to the Republic of Moldova in the Confiscation and Return of Criminal Assets’ – is being implemented by the Basel Institute on Governance. It is funded by the Swiss Government through the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). The initiative forms part of the Swiss Cooperation Programme with Moldova for 2025–2028.

The main objective of the project is to strengthen the capacity of state institutions to combat corruption and recover illicitly acquired assets. To this end, the project provides specialised expert assistance, professional skills development and the improvement of mechanisms for inter-agency cooperation.

How did this story make you feel?