Round Table in International Format: "From Leaks to Justice: Challenges and Opportunities for the Judiciary in the Age of Disclosure"

International roundtable, focused on exploring the impact of information leaks, such as the Panama Papers, Paradise Papers and LuxLeaks, on criminal prosecution and judicial examination, took place on May 22, 2024. Under the theme "From Information Leaks to Justice: Challenges and Opportunities for the Judicial System in the Age of Disclosures", the event was organized by the Corporate Crime Observatory (CCO) in partnership with the National Institute of Justice of the Republic of Moldova, Italian Graduate School, Boston College Law School, Manchester Law School, Government Accountability Project, Association of Corporate Investigators, Whistleblower Partners and University of Roehampton.

On behalf of the Republic of Moldova, the Head of the Anticorruption Prosecutor's Office, Veronica Dragalin, the Liaison Prosecutor at the EU Agency for Cooperation in Criminal Justice (Eurojust), Mihail Ivanov, and the advisor to the INJ Director, Olga Marandici, spoke at the meeting.

Structured in two parts, the round table brought together members of the judicial system, including beneficiaries of the National Institute of Justice, as well as investigative journalists, in order to transfer knowledge, establish a constructive dialogue and create a synergy between these professions. In particular, issues related to illicit financial flows (tax evasion and corruption) and ethically questionable practices (undeclared conflicts of interest of public officials) were targeted.

In the first session, international experts analyzed the phenomenon of information leaks and the role of whistleblowers and investigative journalists in exposing abusive practices. Also, topics related to the legal and ethical implications of information leaks were addressed during the discussions. In the second session, tools and strategies were offered to manage the difficulties encountered by prosecutors and judges in the correct use of information disclosed in their investigative or judicial examination work.