| Fadley Faisal |
THE Criminal Justice Division of the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) conducted a three-day workshop on International Legal Cooperation at the Royal Brunei Police Force (RBPF) Officers Mess in Gadong.
The workshop aimed to train senior police officers on international cooperation mechanisms available to assist them in advancing their criminal investigation when cross-border elements are involved.
Sixteen senior officers from various units within the RBPF participated in the workshop, which was facilitated by Deputy Public Prosecutors Christopher Ng, Karen Tan, Sharon Yeo and Dayangku Hazirah binti Pengiran Mohd Yusof of the Criminal Justice Division who also function as the Mutual Legal Assistance and Extradition Secretariat, Brunei’s Darussalam’s central authority for making and receiving requests for international cooperation with foreign jurisdictions.
Aside from introducing speakers to the various processes such as mutual legal assistance, extradition, recovery of proceeds of crime and international transfer of prisoners, the officers attending the course were also provided with insight into filling in the Law Enforcement Questionnaire to allow the Mutual Legal Assistance and Extradition Secretariat to better facilitate their mutual legal assistance requests to foreign countries for crucial pieces of evidence required for investigations.
In view of technological advancements in the global sphere, the officers were also briefed concerning the request of digital evidence from foreign jurisdictions, particularly the United States where most headquarters of social media companies and e-mail servers are located.
Assistant Solicitor General Haji Abdullah Soefri bin Pehin Orang Kaya Saiful Mulok Dato Seri Paduka Haji Abidin delivering his speech
Haji Abdullah Soefri and Acting Deputy Commissioner of the Royal Brunei Police Force ACP Pengiran Haji Muhammad bin Pengiran Haji Metali (front row, 4L) with the participants and trainers. – PHOTOS: AGC
The workshop participants were also briefed by Senior Inspector Pengiran Haji Yusra bin Pengiran Haji Mohammad from the Foreign Affairs Unit of the RBPF on Interpol and how to use informal channels to seek assistance from foreign law enforcement agencies.
Following the lectures, the participants were able to put their newfound knowledge to the test through a series of case studies, which were tailored around criminal offences that entail the pursuit of evidence outside Brunei Darussalam’s jurisdiction.
The workshop concluded with a certificate presentation to the participants by the chief guests, Haji Abdullah Soefri bin Pehin Orang Kaya Saiful Mulok Dato Seri Paduka Haji Abidin, Assistant Solicitor General and ACP Pengiran Haji Muhammad bin Pengiran Haji Metali, Acting Deputy Commissioner of the RBPF.
In his closing remarks, Haji Abdullah Soefri emphasised the importance for the RBPF to utilise all possible avenues in pursuing investigations to ensure justice is served.
He stressed that formal processes such as Mutual Legal Assistance do not replace the informal relationships made between law enforcement agencies and their counterparts, which can often be speedier and involved in less bureaucracy.
He urged participants to continuously network with counterparts from foreign countries to ensure such ties are always maintained with the view of putting a stop to elements of transnational crime permeating the borders of Brunei Darussalam.
The participants were also reminded of AGC’s ‘open door policy’ with law enforcement agencies – where international cooperation is concerned, and that the Mutual Legal Assistance and Extradition Secretariat stands ready and willing to assist and facilitate such requests.
The workshop was part of the AGC’s endeavours to further educate the enforcement agencies of Brunei Darussalam on local and international laws.
The post AGC workshop offers fresh insight into international law appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.