On August 19 and 20, in Da Nang, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in coordination with the Supreme People's Procuracy organized a regional thematic workshop on improving the capacity to investigate and prosecute high-tech crimes, especially crimes at online fraud centers.
The workshop was attended by investigators, prosecutors and representatives of judicial cooperation agencies from six Southeast Asian Judicial Network (SEAJust) member countries including Cambodia, Laos, the Philippines, Thailand, South Korea and Vietnam, and international partners.
In her opening speech, Ms. Yongjoo Kwon - Advisor for Inter-national Criminal Procedure and Trial, UNODC Southeast Asia region said that the rapid development of "fraudulent centers" along with the use of digital technology and artificial intelligence are causing great challenges for traditional investigation and prosecution activities. These centers are associated with many types of transnational crimes such as money laundering, cybercrime, corruption, human trafficking.
Mr. Nguyen Quang Dung - Deputy Director of the Supreme People's Procuracy of Vietnam, emphasized: "ASEAN countries cannot act alone. We need to have a common voice, a synchronous approach and an effective cooperation mechanism to fight this type of crime. He also affirmed that Vietnam is committed to continuing to make active contributions to building a safe and sustainable ASEAN cyberspace.
According to Mr. Hyungwon Kim - Director of the Department of International Cooperation on Criminal Issues, Ministry of Justice of South Korea, in recent years, fraud methods have developed into large-scale "cyber fraud centers", strictly organized, operated like "industrial" zones and targeted victims globally.
That is the reason why the Korea Fund Program was born, to enhance the capacity of SEAJust member countries and other partners in cooperating in investigating, prosecuting and destroying organized crime networks.
Mr. Tom Corrie, Head of the Development Cooperation with Malaysia, Mongolia and Thailand, Alliance Delegation to Thailand, also affirmed: The European Union is committed to fighting against human trafficking, protecting and promoting human rights globally. This includes the right to participate in a safe cyberspace for everyone and not be taken advantage. The European Union and member states are jointly funding nearly half of the world's total development aid. Everywhere in the world, solving the problem of human trafficking is always a priority action, both internally and internationally, as well as in relations with partner countries.
At the workshop, delegates focused on discussing a number of contents on international and regional cooperation in investigating and prosecuting transnational crimes; sharing practical experiences from ASEAN member countries; simulation exercises on handling organized crime situations related to money laundering and human trafficking; discussing thematic groups to make recommendations on collecting electronic evidence, investigating finances, confiscating assets, as well as protecting victims and witnesses.
