Confiscation, seizure, and extended confiscation were the main topics discussed during the public lecture held on Wednesday, 6 August 2025, at the National Institute of Justice. The event, conducted in English by David Mattan, senior specialist in asset recovery at the International Centre for Asset Recovery within the Basel Institute on Governance, based in Moldova, was addressed to the 18th cohort of trainees, candidates for the positions of judge and prosecutor.
During the lecture, the legal grounds and scope of confiscation measures were analyzed, with a focus on the provisions of Directive (EU) 2024/1260 on the recovery and confiscation of assets. The discussions explored the application of extended confiscation in criminal proceedings, the role of the institutions involved, challenges encountered in practice, and comparative aspects between the Republic of Moldova and the United Kingdom. Additionally, the perspectives for strengthening international cooperation and the necessity for effective management of confiscated assets were discussed.
With over 25 years of experience in asset recovery, David Mattan is currently based in the Republic of Moldova, working within the Basel Institute on Governance – International Centre for Asset Recovery. Over the course of his career, he has served as a police officer and prosecutor in Israel, and as a specialized prosecutor within the Crown Prosecution Service in the United Kingdom, being part of multidisciplinary teams focused on money laundering and asset confiscation. He holds a law degree from the University of Cambridge and has delivered training and legislative assistance in numerous jurisdictions, including the Republic of Moldova.
