Analysis of the legal aspects of illegal asset recovery in Slovenia

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of the study was to analyse the legal aspects of asset recovery in Slovenia through a five-stage asset-recovery process: financial investigation; freezing or seizure of assets; confiscation; enforcement of the confiscation order; and asset disposal. Design/Methods/Approach: EU and Slovenian legislation in the area of illegal asset recovery was analysed and compared. Using legal analysis, gaps and inconsistences were discovered and discussed. Findings: The Slovenian legal order provides relevant bodies with several avenues to recover ‘proceeds’ and illegally acquired assets. There is the traditional confiscation of proceeds, in personam confiscation in criminal proceedings, extended confiscation in criminal proceedings, and civil forfeiture pursuant to the Forfeiture of Assets of Illegal Origin Act. One problem is the related provisions are dispersed across both substantive and procedural law. Another problem is that some provisions are formulated in such a way that makes them impossible to apply in practice. It would be necessary to introduce a category of financial investigation in criminal proceedings. It is inappropriate that financial investigations are carried out under the provisions of civil law. Financial investigation must, therefore, become an essential part of all police criminal investigations of relevant offences, and holds the potential to generate proceeds. However, at the same time, law enforcement authorities must obtain a clear mandate that in the particular conditions they may investigate all assets of a suspect and not simply the concrete proceeds of crime. Practical Implications: The study findings are useful for preparing systemic changes in relation to the seizure of assets of illegal origin, also because the changes can be used to help establish an efficient way of organising the work of state bodies in this area. Originality/Value: The purpose of the paper is to comprehensively analyse all aspects of the seizure of assets of illegal origin. The results of the analysis substantially complement existing knowledge in the analysed field.

Keywords

financial investigations;illegal asset recovery;Forfeiture of Assets of Illegal Origin Act;law;Slovenia;

Data

Language:	English
Year of publishing:	2018
Typology:	1.01 - Original Scientific Article
Organization:	UM FVV - Faculty of Criminal Justice
UDC:	343.272(497.4)(045)
COBISS:	4739016
ISSN:	1580-0253
ISBN:	1580-0253
Parent publication:	Varstvoslovje
Views:	613
Downloads:	31
Average score:	0 (0 votes)
Metadata:

Other data

Secondary language:	Slovenian
Secondary title:	Analiza pravnih vidikov odvzema premoženja nezakonitega izvora
Secondary abstract:	Namen prispevka: Namen študije je analizirati pravne vidike odvzema premoženja nezakonitega izvora v Sloveniji skozi prizmo petstopenjskega procesa odvzema nezakonitega premoženja: finančna preiskava, zamrznitev oziroma zavarovanje premoženja, odvzem premoženja, izvršitev odločbe o odvzemu ter upravljanja z odvzetim premoženjem. Metode: V prispevku smo s pomočjo pravne analize primerjali evropsko in slovensko zakonodajo na področju odvzema premoženja nezakonitega izvora. S pomočjo primerjave pravnih dokumentov smo ocenili razkorake in nedorečenosti med želeno in dejansko ureditvijo tega področja v Sloveniji. Ugotovitve: Slovenski pravni red pristojnim organom ponuja več možnosti odvzema premoženja nezakonitega izvora. Uporabijo lahko klasični odvzem premoženjskih koristi v okviru kazenskega postopka, razširjeni odvzem po kazenski zakonodaji ter civilni odvzem preko tožbe v skladu z zakonom o odvzemu premoženja nezakonitega izvora. V analizi smo ugotovili težave pri jasnosti materialnih določb materialnega in procesnega prava. Nadaljnja težava je, da so nekatere določbe v slovenski zakonodaji oblikovane tako, da jih ni mogoče izvajati v praksi. Avtorji menimo, da bi bilo nujno opredeliti finančno preiskavo v okviru kazenske zakonodaje. Ni primerno, da se finančna preiskava izvaja po določbah civilnega prava. Poleg tega mora finančna preiskava postati ključni del vseh kriminalističnih preiskav kaznivih dejanj, kjer je mogoče uveljavljati odvzem premoženja nezakonitega izvora, pri tem pa mora biti v zakonu nedvoumno zapisan mandat in odgovornosti za izvedbo finančne preiskave. Praktična uporabnost: Ugotovitve študije so koristne pri pripravi sistemskih sprememb na področju zasega premoženja nezakonitega izvora, mogoče pa jih je uporabiti tudi pri vzpostavitvi učinkovite organizacije dela državnih organov na analiziranem območju. Izvirnost/pomembnost prispevka: Namen prispevka je celostno analizirati vse vidike zasega premoženja nezakonitega izvora. Rezultati analize bistveno dopolnjujejo obstoječe znanje na analiziranem področju.
Secondary keywords:	finančne preiskave;odvzem premoženja nezakonitega izvora;pravna ureditev;Zakon o odvzemu premoženja;Slovenija;
Type (COBISS):	Scientific work
Pages:	str. 434-447
Volume:	ǂLetn. ǂ20
Issue:	ǂšt. ǂ4
Chronology:	2018
ID:	11693546