The EU Mission for the Support of Palestinian Police and Rule of Law
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Palestinian Judges and prosecutors on anti-corruption visit to Finland

Ramallah, February 23, 2012 -A group composed of Palestinian judges and prosecutors attended a study trip to Helsinki and Turku in Finland to enhance the preparation of corruption court hearings.

 
The visit which is part of a UNDP/EUPOLCOPPS Joint Programme was organized and conducted by EUPOL COPPS’ Prosecution team. Following the visit a workshop about case preparation will be organized for judges, prosecutors and attorneys.
 
The Head of the Corruption Crimes Court (CCC), Hussein Obeidat and two judges, the Chief prosecutor of the Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC), Akram Alkhatib and two prosecutors visited the Supreme Court, District Court, the Attorney General Office and the Prosecution Office in Finland.
 
The Palestinian delegation received presentations from Finnish judges and prosecutors on corruption case preparation. Special emphasis was placed on the common need for judges and prosecutors to prepare court hearings in order to avoid unnecessary postponements: identification of the issues in dispute between parties, identification of evidence and relevant witnesses to be called by the prosecution.
 
OBEIDAT and ALKHATIB acknowledged that case preparation is the most efficient way to speed up court proceedings. According to them, this study visit marks a first but important step in order to fully adapt the concept of case preparation in line with best practices in Europe.
 
Signed on December 01, 2011, the USD 3.5 million Joint Programme between UNDP/EUPOL COPPS and the Palestinian Authority is based on rule of law and respect for human rights and aims at strengthening internal police accountability, national anti-corruption efforts and the oversight role of civil society in democratic governance and preparation for statehood.