Good Governance Talk On Enhancing Cooperation In Crime Prevention
By P. Marilyn

Bandar Seri Begawan - Mr Michel Bonnieu, Senior Legal Advisor of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) yesterday delivered a talk on Good Governance, focusing on Enhancing Regional and International Cooperation in Crime Prevention and Detection from the perspective of UNODC, at the Civil Institute in Rimba.

Among those attending the talk was YAM Pengiran Anak Mansurah Izzul Bolkiah, representing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Also present were representatives and officers from the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), the Attorney General Chambers, Judiciary Department, the Royal Brunei Police Force, Immigration Department, Royal Customs and Excise Department, Internal Security Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Ministry of Finance and the Labour Department.

Mr Bonnieu is currently in the country on a visit to impart and share valuable knowledge and experience of UNODC's works and responsibilities.

Through the process of interaction, networking and discussion with the participants, Mr Bonnieu's presence will further enhance the close relationship and cooperation between all Law Enforcement Agencies in Brunei with UNODC.

During yesterday's talk, Mr Bonnieu touched on various topics such as `Integrity of the Judicial System and the Law Enforcement Agencies in relation to Corruption', `Regional Perspective on Key Issues Challenges and Opportunities on Mutual Legal Assistance and Extradition', as well as the `Evolution of Asset Recovery Mechanisms in United Nations Conventions'.

According to Mr Wee Ken Teck, Head of International Unit, ACB, Brunei: "It will also bring about benefits to both Brunei and UNODC towards ensuring greater and closer working relationship and cooperation, as well as to meet our common objectives of establishing greater effectiveness in crime detection and investigation, both in the regional and international perspectives.

"Such good relationship will be important and indeed critical in the context of regulating and controlling the ever expanding, complex and globalisation of crimes which are no longer confined or restrained by any geopolitical or cultural settings," he added.

Mr Bonnieu's visit was at the invitation of Brunei's ACB and the first visit made by a representative of the UNODC.

His visit comes in the wake of His Majesty's titah to usher the New Year 2008, where the monarch stressed the need for Brunei to maintain a system of good governance that is free from corruption, and at the same time to foster closer and more productive relationship with international organisations for the well-being and benefit of the Sultanate.

It also provides an opportunity to identify and measure the capacity of Brunei's ACB in making positive contributions towards regional and international partners and organisations with regards to corruption prevention and investigation.

UNODC was established to assist the United Nations in better addressing a coordinated, comprehensive response to the interrelated issues of illicit trafficking, drug abuse, crime prevention, criminal justice, international terrorism and corruption.

Brunei was a signatory to the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) on Dec 11, 2003.

Currently, the bureau, with the assistance of the Attorney General Chambers, had discussed and made the necessary preparations for Brunei to ratify this convention within this year.

UNODC, who is also the custodian of this convention, is helping the bureau in identifying areas and the provisions under the convention, which may require necessary action or implementation once Brunei fully ratifies the UNCAC. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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