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CIO Signs MOA with New Zealand’s SFO for Mutual Cooperation - Chief Prosecutor Kim Jin Wook and Director and Chief Executive Karen Chang Collaborate on Anti-Corruption Initiatives -
  • Date : 2023.06.16
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Korea’s Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) and New Zealand’s Serious Fraud Office (SFO) recently signed a memorandum of arrangement (MOA) to enhance cooperation in their respective operations. This marks the second diplomatic arrangement entered into by the CIO with a foreign law enforcement agency for investigative efforts, following the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the UK SFO last year.
 
Kim Jin Wook, Chief Prosecutor of the CIO, and Karen Chang, Director and Chief Executive of the SFO, met at the SFO headquarters in Auckland on the morning of May 30 (local time) to officially sign the “Arrangement to Promote Cooperation between the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials of the Republic of Korea and the Serious Fraud Office of New Zealand.”
 
The MOA between the CIO and New Zealand’s SFO aims to continuously promote and improve the exchange and cooperation between the law enforcement agencies in investigating and prosecuting corruption offenses.
 
To this end, the CIO and the SFO have agreed to cooperate by sharing experiences and expertise to prevent and combat corruption offenses; hosting and participating in workshops and seminars related to the investigation and prosecution of corruption offenses; promoting mutual visits between members of the agencies to facilitate the interchange of knowledge and experiences in investigating and prosecuting corruption offenses; and exchanging international experiences and information relevant to both agencies’ investigation and prosecution work.
 
During the meeting with Chang, Kim emphasized the significance of the MOA with New Zealand’s SFO that establishes a cooperation belt for anti-corruption initiatives between the CIO and national law enforcement agencies of the Commonwealth, following the previous MOU with the UK SFO. He also suggested joining hands to resolutely combat highly advanced and sophisticated cases of corruption involving public officials through continuous exchanges and collaboration.
In response, Chang acknowledged that both the New Zealand’s SFO and the CIO are government agencies dedicated to protecting societal interests by combating corruption offenses, encouraging officials from both agencies to consider the MOA as an opportunity to cooperate closely in the future.
 
Following the signing of the MOA, a meeting was held between the CIO and the SFO, during which the CIO delegates, led by Kim, delivered presentations on the background and significance of the CIO’s establishment, the historical evolution of Korea’s criminal justice system, and the office’s role and functions. Similarly, officials of the SFO gave reports on the current state of New Zealand’s criminal justice system, the SFO’s formation, the cooperation system among law enforcement agencies of the Commonwealth, and their experiences in investigating corruption cases such as bribery. The meeting concluded with a Q&A session.
 
Kim is scheduled to travel to Australia on May 31 (local time) for an official visit to the Sydney Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) on June 1 and the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) on June 2. The meetings will center on matters of mutual concern and exploring collaborative measures with Chief Commissioner John Hatzistergos.
 
Attached photo: Kim Jin Wook, Chief Prosecutor of the CIO, and Karen Chang Director and Chief Executive of the New Zealand’s SFO, signing the MOA