Anti-money laundering mock trial in Kazakhstan

The Global Programme against Money-Laundering (GPML) in conjunction with the UNODC/ROCA Senior Regional Legal Adviser conducted a four-day Anti- Money Laundering Mock Trial from 20 to 24 June in Astana, Kazakhstan. The training event was hosted by the Training Institute of the General Prosecutor's Office of the Republic of Kazakhstan and attended by 40 prosecutors, judges, law enforcement and FIU officers from Astana and the regions.

The objective of this exercise was to give participants practical experience in the investigation and prosecution of money-laundering with corruption as the predicate offence. The Mock Trial gave an opportunity to senior officials from the judiciary and law-enforcement agencies to experience many of the issues and evidential arguments that would arise in a genuine case. It helped the participants gain a better understanding of the pressures that investigators, judges and prosecutors face when dealing with genuine money laundering cases. Such pressures include:  effective team work, sharing of information and the use of relevant evidence.

The participants and administration of the Training Institute of the General Prosecutor's Office highly recommended this type of training stressing its practical value and suggested regularly organizing mock trials.