The Role of State and Other Bodies in Financial Investigations of Criminal Offenses

Abstract

Financial investigations are conducted with the aim of determining and uncovering corrupt criminal acts, as well as securing and confiscating the proceeds of the criminal act. In this way, state institutions with their entities and bodies represent an effective instrument in the fight against property-motivated crimes. For this reason, an attack on property, which was achieved in an illegal way, is considered the heaviest blow for perpetrators of serious crimes, and tools aimed at confiscating property benefits are assessed as the best way to combat organized crime. Illegally acquired property benefits from various criminal acts are, in most cases, concealed. Conducting financial investigations by competent authorities should meet certain requirements. Professional relationship and highly professional work are the key features of financial investigations. In this regard, the prosecutor is the leading person and coordinator, who has the most extensive task in terms of managing the financial investigation. The prosecutor engages numerous state authorities and financial experts in order to collect relevant data and information, and in the function of documenting illegally acquired property benefits. In this context, it is necessary to elaborate on the role and importance of criminal process subjects and state authorities in the procedures of conducting financial investigations in the case of confiscation of illegally acquired property benefits.