One of the purposes of a meeting held February 16, in BrasÀlia, by Federal prosecutors and judges from all over Brazil in charge of cases investigated by the Federal Police involving corruption and money-laundering is to expand the country’s dialogue with the United States to reinforce the war on money-laundering.
They discussed procedural standards in actions to block access to property in the United States.
“It is important for Brazilian professionals to have a good understanding of the American judicial system. This is also in the interests of the United States. It represents a form of cooperation that works both ways, and there is a worldwide movement underway in the sense of collaboration among countries to combat crime,” said the national secretary of Justice of the Ministry of Justice, Cláudia Chagas.
According to Chagas, Brazil has made an effort to acquire specialization in the area of legal cooperation, which, according to her, is fundamental in the fight against money-laundering and other crimes.
New Agreements
By the end of 2006, the Brazilian government intends to sign legal cooperation agreements with 50 countries on money laundering and organized crime. At the moment, Brazil has such agreements with Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Colombia, the United States, France, Italy, Peru and Portugal.
Other similar agreements with South Korea, Lebanon, Ukraine, Canada, the rest of the member nations of the Organization of American States, Switzerland, Cuba and China await Congressional approval. An agreement with the United Kingdom is in the pipeline.
Meanwhile, in the capital Brasília, the Ministry of Justice is holding a national conference on the issue of preventing and combating money laundering, which was described at the event as a transnational crime in an era of transnational crime that can only be dealt with through transnational juridical structuring.
“These agreements are important because they create channels for rapid investigation, gathering of proof and sentencing,” explained Chagas.
Translation: David Silberstein
Agência Brasil