The trainees of the National Institute of Justice – candidates for the positions of judge and prosecutor from the 18th and 19th generation of trainees – participated on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, in a public lecture dedicated to the offence of money laundering. The session, delivered in English by David Mattan, expert of the International Centre for Asset Recovery (ICAR), offered both a theoretical and practical perspective on the investigation and prosecution of this offence, in line with international standards and national legislation.
In the opening remarks, Ramona Strugariu, Director of the National Institute of Justice, and Ghennadi Epure, Deputy Director, encouraged future judges and prosecutors to be active, to ask questions, and to apply the knowledge gained in their future professional activities. They also highlighted the importance of engaging with an international expert and of holding the session in English, as it contributes to developing competencies within an international context.
During the lecture, participants examined the stages of the money laundering process – placement, layering, and integration – the differences between the “threshold” approach and the “stand-alone” approach, as well as the concepts of predicate offence and self-laundering. They also reviewed the provisions of Directive (EU) 2018/1673 on combating money laundering by criminal law and Article 243 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Moldova. Through case scenarios, trainees identified the elements of the money laundering offence, the persons involved, and the necessary evidence, while discussing the challenges encountered during investigations.
Previously, NIJ trainees attended the public lecture “Confiscation, Seizure, and Extended Confiscation”, delivered by the same expert, which addressed international cooperation in the management of illicitly acquired assets. With extensive experience in combating money laundering and asset recovery, David Mattan works across multiple international jurisdictions and contributes to training and legislative assistance in the Republic of Moldova.
