A partnership agreement was signed virtually on Tuesday this week by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) and the Basel Institute of Governance based in Switzerland.
The agreement enables the International Centre for Asset Recovery (ICAR) within the Basel Institute on Governance and FICAC to cooperate to strengthen the commission’s capacity to identify and recover assets obtained through corruption.
FICAC Deputy Commissioner Rashmi Aslam said they looked forward to maximising the newly-created partnership with Basel Institute not only for its reactive functions but also for its proactive functions in areas such as policy matters.
“It is an important juncture, not only for FICAC, it’s for Fiji as well because we are one of the key stakeholders in the criminal justice system in Fiji,” Mr Rashmi said.
“Through the partnership, the commission aims to improve its delivery to the criminal justice system and obtain better results.”
The Basel Institute on Governance is an independent not-for-profit competence centre working around the world to strengthen governance and counter corruption and other financial crimes.
Senior Asset Recovery specialist Andrew Dornbierer said the partnership with FICAC was a big moment for Basel Institute because this would be the first partnership with an agency in the South Pacific Region.
Basel Institute on Governance managing director Gretta Fenner said it was a pleasure to be connected with Fiji being the hub of the South Pacific, and possibly overtime with the commission’s expertise and the support from the institute to reach other Pacific island countries.
She said the Basel Institute looked forward to working with FICAC to strengthen its capacity to trace and recover assets stolen through corruption, in particular where it had been hidden abroad.
“Fiji is considered an economic hub of the Pacific region, and we believe there is great potential in this new collaboration to strengthen the regional and global fight against corruption,” Ms Fenner said.
