The International Centre for Asset Recovery (ICAR) accompanies law enforcement authorities and anti-corruption agencies in specific case management. The ICAR provides a full range of case management assistance ranging from general advice on how to commence and progress an investigation or a prosecution in a corruption or asset recovery context right through to hands-on coaching in specific cases. The team consists of members who have many years of experience in relation to investigating and prosecuting such cases.
Goal
To develop operational capacity in law enforcement personnel to enable successful prosecutions and repatriation of stolen assets.
Values
- Long-term engagement
- Trust
- Confidentiality
Methodology
Mindful of the sensitivities involved in such investigations, the ICAR works very closely with the host country to establish a careful and discrete level of trust with the law enforcement agencies involved in the case. Often the case and legal consultancy is the product of a long period of engagement with a country – often being the result of trainings. During a programme there are often open or even confidential discussions on open investigations or prosecutions which will form the basis of a sensitive cooperation between the ICAR team and the country.
Expertise
Our expertise extends to both investigative and prosecutorial aspects of cases. There is a considerable expertise in the ICAR that can assist law enforcement agencies to prepare a strategy for an investigation, to progress investigations that might have reached some level of impasse or even to act as a facilitator in exchanges with other foreign jurisdictions particularly where efforts are being made to secure mutual assistance or to track assets.
The ICAR aims to provide expertise in training and building the capacity of agencies involved in the fight against corruption but also to track and recover stolen assets. In some circumstances the ICAR will also assist in providing specific legal and case assistance to allow countries to make early and sometimes significant first steps in an investigation.