Latest Insights into Cross-border Cooperation on Asset Recovery and Confiscation

• Year: 2023

Speaker

Jean-Michel Verlest has served as the Deputy King's Prosecutor of Brussels since 2005, with a background as an attorney-at-law and consultant in audit firms. His expertise lies in business criminal law, money laundering, tax fraud, bribery, and asset recovery. Since January 2017, he has been the Director of the Central Office for Seizure and Confiscation (COSC), overseeing the seizure of valuable assets, including cryptocurrencies, and aiding Belgian judicial and law enforcement agencies.

Mr. Verlest previously held positions as Deputy Chief of Cabinet for the Belgian Minister of Justice, dealing with economic and financial matters, and as a Liaison Magistrate at EUROJUST. He has actively participated in evaluations of Belgium's anti-corruption efforts by organizations like OECD, FATF, and the United Nations.

He is a sought-after speaker at international conferences and symposiums, sharing insights on criminal law, asset recovery, and asset management. Mr. Verlest is a key figure in European Union working groups related to criminal asset confiscation and consults with international organizations like UNODC, the Council of Europe, and GIZ. He also holds leadership roles, including the Presidency of CARIN. In 2019, he was selected as the European Prosecutor for Belgium within the European Public Prosecution Office (EPPO).

Topic

In this e-presentation, the speaker offers a comprehensive exploration of the Belgian approach to asset recovery and asset management, shedding light on the intricacies of a critical aspect of law enforcement and financial regulation. The presentation delves into the mechanisms and strategies employed in the realm of asset tracing and underscores the significance of Regulation (EU) 2018/1805, which addresses mutual recognition of freezing and confiscation orders among European Union member states.

Asset recovery and asset management are indispensable components of modern law enforcement and financial governance. They play a pivotal role in combating various forms of criminal activity, including money laundering, corruption, organized crime, and terrorist financing. The speaker, in this context, provides valuable...