The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO, Director Kim Jin-wook) signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to enhance mutual cooperation with the New Zealand Serious Fraud Office (SFO).
This is the second time the CIO has signed a diplomatic cooperation agreement related to investigative activities with an overseas investigative agency, following last year's MOU with the UK SFO.
Kim Jin-wook, Chief of the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Agency, visited the New Zealand SFO on the morning of the 30th (local time) and took a commemorative photo with Karen Chang, Director of the SFO. [Photo by the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Agency]
On the morning of the 30th (local time), Kim Jin-wook, Director of the CIO, and Karen Chang, Director of the New Zealand SFO, met at the Auckland SFO headquarters and signed the "Agreement on Enhancing Cooperation between the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials of the Republic of Korea and the New Zealand Serious Fraud Office."
The MOA signed that day stipulates that the CIO and the New Zealand SFO will continuously promote and develop exchange and cooperation in the investigation and prosecution of corruption crimes.
To this end, the CIO and the New Zealand SFO agreed to cooperate in ▲ sharing mutual experiences and know-how for the prevention and eradication of corruption crimes ▲ inviting and participating in workshops and seminars in the fields of investigation and prosecution of corruption crimes ▲ mutual visits among members of each agency to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and experience in the investigation and prosecution of corruption crimes ▲ exchanging international experience and information related to investigative and prosecutorial work of both agencies.
During the meeting with Director Karen Chang, Director Kim said, "Following the signing of the MOU with the UK SFO, I am very pleased that the MOA with the New Zealand SFO has been concluded, making the establishment of an anti-corruption cooperation belt among the CIO and investigative agencies of Commonwealth countries more visible," adding, "Let us respond strictly together to the increasingly advanced and sophisticated public official corruption crimes through continuous exchange and cooperation."
In response, Director Karen Chang said, "The New Zealand SFO and Korea's CIO are institutions that pursue the common value of eradicating corruption crimes to protect the interests of society," and added, "Let us closely cooperate going forward based on this MOA."
At the meeting held after the MOA signing between the CIO and the SFO, the CIO side, including Director Kim, explained the background and significance of the CIO's establishment, the historical changes in Korea's criminal justice system, and the roles and functions of the CIO. The New Zealand SFO side explained the current operation status of New Zealand's criminal justice system, the origin of the SFO, the cooperation system among Commonwealth investigative agencies, and their experience in investigating anti-corruption crimes such as bribery, followed by a Q&A session.
On the 31st (local time), Director Kim will travel to Australia and visit the Sydney Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) on the 1st of next month. On the 2nd, he plans to meet with John Hatzistergos, Chair of the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) in Australia, to discuss mutual interests and cooperation measures between the two agencies.
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