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US Ambassador visits Units of Economic Crimes and Anticorruption at the Public Prosecutor’s Office

07/19/07

The Ambassador of the United States of America, James C. Cason, made a courtesy visit to the units of Economic Crimes and Anticorruption of the Public Prosecutor’s Office. As a symbolic gesture, the US Ambassador handed the Prosecutor a white cowboy hat for the courage and determination the Office shows in its frontal fight against corruption and impunity.

“Who can forget the classical movies of the American west, where the sheriff and the paladins of justice with white cowboy hats fought against the bad guys with black hats” said Ambassador Cason as he congratulated the employees of this Anticorruption Prosecutor’s Unit for their good work. The visit took place on Thursday, July 19 at 10 am at the General Prosecutor’s Offices.

It is worth mentioning that these prosecuting units have been fitted-out and equipped with support of USAID, as part of the technical assistance that this Agency is giving them. This cooperation also includes the development and implementation of an automated system of case management, which will contribute to better investigations and a more effective follow up of economic crimes and corruption, facilitating better internal control.

Employees of the prosecuting units are also receiving training from the Department of Justice of the United States and USAID in matters of technical investigation of complex crimes and case management. This component is a key part in the implementation of the MCC Threshold Program of the Republic of Paraguay.

The efforts and the final objective of this aid is to strengthen the Public Prosecutor’s Department in its capacity to combat corruption, prompting penal actions and investigations against complex crimes, and equipping the offices which have the responsibility of processing these cases with infrastructure and the necessary capacity to accomplish such a difficult task.