• Representatives of the United Nations and the World Bank highlight the law on seizure of illegal assets implemented by Peru
• International cooperation is essential to facilitate the transfer of assets coming from illegal acts

The fight against corruption requires comprehensive policies that ensure an adequate investigation process and identification of politicians, public servers or important personalities involved in illegal acts and the recovery of assets coming from these crimes. At an intergovernmental level, international cooperation is key for facilitating a fast transfer of stolen assets to governments that have been victims of these systematic robberies.

Rick Messick, World Bank Expert and James Shaw, Advisor of the Organized Crime and Corruption UNODC Office, pointed out that measures applied in Peru, such as the law on Seizure of Illegal Assets, have been fundamental in the fight against corruption at a local level, for the recovery of stolen assets and in reducing incentives for those who want to get involved in organized crime. On this matter, James Shaw stated that Peru has recovered more than 180 billion dollars in assets coming from corruption acts carried out during the Alberto Fujimori and Vladimiro Montesinos period.

The anticorruption expert also stated that a comprehensive fight against these illegal acts include mechanisms to encourage people who want to provide information on these criminal groups and illegal assets linked to these organized networks. Likewise, he added that the money recovered can help optimize the work carried out by the Police and the Judiciary in investigative matters and by earmarking them as funds for education and health services.

On the other hand, Rick Messick expressed that the World Bank is committed with all APEC Economies and the other world countries in a new strategy to improve governance; therefore, “5 billion dollars a year in loans to fight corruption have been earmarked,” he added.

He also stated that international cooperation is essential to ensure a fast and less costly transfer of assets coming from corruption and a more active participation of police authorities in helping countries that are victims of these illegal acts, in compliance with international laws.

Both officials pointed out that during the anti-corruption workshop meetings new techniques were disclosed for investigating and locating assets disguised in corporations of financial centers.  Other tools for fighting corruption and recovering stolen assets were also made public.