Leiden University wins ICC Moot Court Competition
Pictured here: ICC Judge Geoffrey A. Henderson with the winning team ©ICC-CPI
Leiden University (The Netherlands) won the International Criminal Court (ICC) Moot Court Competition – English edition. The final round was held today, 7 June 2019, in Courtroom I of the ICC in The Hague (the Netherlands). The Honorable Society of King’s Inns (Ireland) and The Chinese University of Hong Kong (Hong Kong) share the second place. The award for the Best Speaker went to Anna Rubbi from Leiden University (The Netherlands).
Members of the winning team are Cale Davis, Keat Teoh, Elizabeth Hartley, Anna Rubbi, Olivia Waddell, Tess van Gaal and Pauline Martini. On the judge’s bench for this competition were ICC Judge Geoffrey A. Henderson, presiding, and ICC legal officers Simon de Smet and Chitrangada Singh. The teams competed on a fictitious case, presenting oral arguments in the roles of the Office of the Prosecutor, the Defence and State Counsel, which were web-streamed live on the Court’s website.
This version of the ICC Moot Court Competition is organised by the Grotius Centre for International Legal Studies – Leiden University, in partnership with the International Bar Association and sponsored by the Planethood Foundation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, The Hague Municipality and Stanza Bookshop. Top students of 69 universities from 51 countries and six continents worldwide participated in the preliminary stage of this year’s ICC Moot Court Competition.
In the context of its Academic Programme, the ICC supports the organisation of ICC Moot Court Competitions in Chinese, English, Russian and Spanish, with a view to also support Arabic and French versions in the future. These initiatives play a critical role in galvanising interest in the Court’s work with academic communities as well as in enhancing promotion and respect for international criminal law.
Residentie Orkest the Hague – Business Circle Meeting
Public Transport: Past, present and future
By Roy Lie Atjam. The Philharmonic orchestra and the Residentie Orkest Business Circle met at the HTM museum. This particular Business Circle meeting was organized at the invitation of our esteemed member and General Director of the HTM, Mr. Jaap Bierman and Mr. Jan Linssen who is also a member of the philharmonic orchestra’s Business Circle Board and also CEO of ARS Traffic & Transport Technology.
Erik Reinders studied at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague and has been a bassoonist with the Residentie Orchestra since 1997.
Jos Tieman has been a bassist with the Residentie Orkest since 1984 and studied at the Arnhem Municipal Conservatory. Farid Sheek also gave a great performance.
Sheek and the Residentie Orkest gave a fine performance before at a similar gathering in het Paard. Sheek, who fled Iran a few years ago, enthralled the audience playing the Daf, one of the world’s oldest percussion instruments. His passion is to create a new musical blend, combining the beauty of Western and Eastern music.
A networking session and cocktail reception followed the formal part of the evening. New National Member for Estonia at Eurojust
In the picture Ms Laura Vaik ; she took up her duties as the new National Member for Estonia at Eurojust in March 2019.
Throughout her professional career, Ms Vaik participated as an expert in cross-border cooperation against organized crime in various international fora, committees, and organisations, inter alia the Council of Europe. In that role, she made a valuable contribution to fighting money laundering, financial crime and corruption, and she provided specialised training to prosecutors, judges and other judicial practitioners.
Ms Vaik’s first position was Assistant Prosecutor at the Department of Financial Crimes of the Estonian Northern District Prosecutor’s Office; she was promoted to District Prosecutor in 2001. From 2003 – 2004, she served as a docent of general provisions on penal law at the Public Service Academy of Estonia.
In the period 2005 – 2019, Ms Vaik occupied the position of State Prosecutor at the Prosecution Department of the Prosecutor’s General Office of Estonia, and subsequently at the Internal Control Department of the same institution. From 2008 to 2011, prior to her appointment as National Member for Estonia, Ms Vaik worked as a Seconded National Expert to the Estonian Desk at Eurojust.
In the context of the Estonian Presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2017, Ms Vaik joined the DROIPEN Working Party on Substantive Criminal Law, whichworks to align national provisions of substantive criminal law. In 2006 and 2013, she was one of the nominees for the title of ‘Prosecutor of the Year’ in Estonia. In 2011, she published an article on Problems and Perspectives of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office in the Estonian judicial magazine Juridica.
Ms Vaik graduated from the University of Tartu and obtained a Master’s Degree in Law in 2000. She also holds a Master’s Degree in public administration from Tallinn University of Technology.
After her appointment to Eurojust, Ms Vaik said: ‘I am delighted to return to Eurojust as the new National Member for my country after my previous secondment to the Estonian Desk. It is a special honour for me to represent my country in an organisation that has contributed so much to fighting transnational organized crime and has a lot more to offer. I will dedicate all my experience and efforts to Eurojust’s goals and stronger cooperation with Member States and third countries. Only together can we target more criminals and better protect our fellow European citizens.’
Eurojust brings down criminal group selling contaminated fish
In a major operation, coordinated by Eurojust, authorities from Romania, Spain, France, Italy, Hungary and Portugal took action against an organised crime group involved in illegal fishing in contaminated waters, tax evasion and money laundering.
The contaminated fish was stored in, and transported to, several EU countries in improper and unsanitary conditions, and then sold to Romanian companies. As a result of the joint action day, enabled through a coordination centre set up at Eurojust, the EU’s Judicial Cooperation Unit, almost 250 searches were performed, 13 people in total were arrested as well as 11 boats and 30 tons of contaminated fish were seized and taken from the market. Eurojust assisted in real time with the issuing of three European Investigations Orders from Romania towards Hungary during the action day, thus allowing for real-time exchange of information.
The members of the organised crime group (OCG), who were former fishermen, developed a sophisticated mechanism for poaching and purchasing fish from contaminated territorial waters in Italy, Spain and France, where fishing is prohibited as the fish in those areas is unfit for consumption. The contaminated fish was sold to Romanian companies, which were especially set up as ‘ghost’ fish marketing companies to serve the OCG’s criminal activities.
Through those companies, the OCG members obtained fishing permits and VAT codes for the trades, but did not acquire the mandatory sanitary authorisations for intra-Community trade of products of animal origin. They used fake invoices and other falsified documents to resell the fish in Spain, France, Italy, Hungary, Portugal and Romania, reaping substantial illicit profits, including by evading taxes and laundering money. The OCG did not have a pyramidal structure, but acted at several levels on which distinct cells were formed, based on each specific activity (fish poaching, freight transport, trade etc.).
Eurojust actively supported the cooperation between national judicial and law enforcement authorities from Romania, Spain, Hungary, France, Italy and Portugal. As a result, the criminal activity of the OCG was documented, and all gathered information was used to block 30 tons of additional contaminated fish from entering the Romanian market. The Romanian Sanitary, Veterinary and Food Safety Authority destroyed the entire amount of seized fish.
In 2018, the Prosecution Office of the Court of Appeal of Constanța, Romania, initiated a criminal investigation into the OCG. The Investigative Judge No 4 and the Public Prosecutor’s Office (PPO) of Lleida, Spain, launched a parallel investigation into the same OCG, followed by the PPO of Venice, Italy, and the PPO of Tarascon, France. All Member States combined their efforts with spontaneous exchanges of information, also facilitated by European Investigation Orders (EIOs).
Eurojust helped the national authorities throughout their investigations, including with drafting, issuing, transmitting and executing the EIOs during the action day. A coordination meeting was also held at Eurojust, with the participation of Europol, to decide on the investigative and prosecutorial strategies and solve judicial and operational issues. Europol assisted the investigations with cross-matching of information and evidence, demonstrating links to France and Italy.
850 police officers were deployed during the operation from national law enforcement authorities, including the Italian Guardia di Finanza, the Spanish Policía Nacional, and the French Gendarmerie Nationale, Office central de lutte contre les atteintes à l’environnement et à la santé publique (OCLAESP).
Migrant smuggling network halted
On a joint action day, supported by Eurojust, the French and Romanian authorities arrested 11 members of an organised crime group (OCG) involved in the smuggling of 308 migrants to the UK.
18 house searches were carried out and weapons as well as around half a million euro in cash were seized. Eurojust actively coordinated the parallel national investigations to bring down the criminal group in its entirety, prevent conflicts of jurisdiction and decide on the best place to prosecute. This successful case clearly demonstrates the added value of judicial cooperation facilitated by Eurojust, which helps to bridge the gap between diverging national legislations.
The French investigation into the group was initiated in August 2018, followed by the Romanian and UK authorities in March 2019, and the Dutch ones in May 2019. On 6 June 2019, based on the quick and effective exchange of information between all countries involved at a coordination meeting at Eurojust and an operational meeting at Europol, the main targets as well as the hierarchical structure and modus operandi of the OCG were quickly identified. During the action day (12 June), Eurojust facilitated the swift and simultaneous execution of several French European Investigation Orders and European Arrest Warrants, issued towards the Romanian and UK authorities.
The migrant smuggling OCG was composed mainly of Romanian truck drivers, middlemen and leaders. The OCG members smuggled migrants mostly of Palestinian, Iraqi, Iranian and Afghan origin, using trucks that belonged to Romanian companies. The migrants were transferred to transit sites in the North of France, as well in Belgium and the Netherlands, with the UK as destination country. The truck drivers promised a ‘guaranteed transit’ to the migrants, charging them with a fee ranging between €11 000 €14 500. The total illegal proceeds amount to €3,4 million approximately.
So far, 59 active OCG members were identified. The criminals are accused of illegal migrant smuggling, participation in a criminal organisation, as well as money laundering.
Victims of sexual abuse saved through Eurojust’s intervention
With the active support of Eurojust, the Italian and Romanian national authorities brought down an organized crime group involved in trafficking in human beings for sexual exploitation.
In a joint action day, coordinated by Eurojust, 8 suspects were placed under preventive measures, 18 house searches were carried out and more than €70 000 in assets and cash were seized. Another three people were deported to Romania.
It was the first time that two National Members at Eurojust submitted to the Italian and Romanian competent authorities a formal Joint Request that triggered the initiation of an investigation and the setting up of a joint investigation team.
The members of the organised crime group (OCG), mainly composed of Romanian nationals, coerced women and minors into prostitution, initially in the Romanian Pascani district and at a later stage, in the area of Bergamo in Italy. The victims typically stemmed from poor rural areas and precarious family backgrounds, and had a low level of education. The OCG members promised to the victims lawful jobs and a better future in Italy and occasionally recruited them via job centres. The victims were forced to pay to the criminals €100 per day, and an additional amount for accommodation and transportation. The OCG members are suspected of having committed the crime of trafficking in human beings (THB) with the purpose of enslavement, prostitution and sexual exploitation.
To target the OCG more efficiently, the National Members for Italy and Romania at Eurojust took the initiative in April 2018 and convinced the Italian Public Prosecutor’s Office of Brescia to open an investigation into the OCG and form a joint investigation team (JIT) with the Romanian Territorial Office of the Directorate for Investigation of Organised Crime and Terrorism of Iaşi.
The Italian National Antimafia Directorate was also involved in triggering the investigation. Eurojust supported the JIT financially and logistically and held two coordination meetings at its premises in The Hague to further facilitate the judicial cooperation between the authorities involved, and help them advance their criminal investigations. The successful outcome of the operation was mainly due to this unique Joint Request, which is based on the special powers granted to National Members by the Council Decision setting up Eurojust as the EU’s Judicial Cooperation Unit.
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Photos © State Security Service of Ukraine
“Adriana Lecouvreur” patronised by Swarovski
In the picture Helga Rabl-Stadler & Nadja Swarovski – Picture by Swarovski.
29 July 2019, Salzburg, Austria: Chairperson of Swarovski Foundation Swarovski Executive Board Member, Nadja Swarovski hosted a bespoke function for the opera performance ‘Adriana Lecouvreur’ in the framework of the globally renowned Salzburg Festival.
It was at the Salzburg Residenz, the former palace of the prince-archbishops of Salzburg, that Ms Nadja Swarovski had the pleasure of welcoming guests such as the President of the Salzburg Festival, Dr. Helga Rabl-Stadler, actress Sunnyi Melles, Princess Leonille Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn, father and son actor duo, Friedrich and Max von Thun, Maria Großbauer from the Vienna Opera Ball, which holds a partnership with Swarovski (http://www.diplomatmagazine.
‘Adriana Lecouvreur’ plays three time in 2019 at the Salzburg Festival. The opera in four acts hails from 1902, a libretto written by Arturo Colautti after the play Adrienne Lecouvreur (1849) by Eugène Scribe and Ernest Legouvé.
At the opera’s première, more than 140,000 Swarovski crystals on three dresses by Anna Netrebko and a gown by Anita Rachvelishvili made the stage sparkle.
For further information:
- Atelier Swarovski: http://www.
atelierswarovski.com/articles/ conscious-luxury-on-the-red- carpet - Salzburger Festival: https://www.
salzburgerfestspiele.at/en/
Huge cocaine bust in Italy with support from Eurojust
Thanks to Eurojust’s support in coordinating judicial cooperation among Colombia, the USA, France, Spain and Italy, 368 kg of pure cocaine were seized in the Port of Genova, and three men of Italian nationality were arrested.
The drugs have a street value of EUR 100 million. In addition to the drugs, cash in excess of EUR 950 000 as well as three cars and a jammer to block transmission signals were seized.
Photos © Guardia di Finanza Genova
The drugs were acquired in Colombia and transported and tracked during the journey by the Colombian authorities, the US Drug Enforcement Administration, the US Customs and Border Protection Authority, the French authorities, the Spanish authorities and the Italian Guardia di Finanza Genova and Direzione Anti-Mafia of Genova, with the constant support of Eurojust.
One of the three suspects has vertical links to the ‘Ndrangheta ‘Alvaro’ di Sinopoli.
Photos © Guardia di Finanza Genova
The drugs were acquired in Colombia and transported and tracked during the journey by the Colombian authorities, the US Drug Enforcement Administration, the US Customs and Border Protection Authority, the French authorities, the Spanish authorities and the Italian Guardia di Finanza Genova and Direzione Anti-Mafia of Genova, with the constant support of Eurojust.
One of the three suspects has vertical links to the ‘Ndrangheta ‘Alvaro’ di Sinopoli. Israel’s Ambassador Issacharoff in Saxony
Wednesday, 24 July 2019, Dresden, Free State of Saxony: Saxony’s Premier Michael Kretschmer received the Israeli Ambassador to Germany, Jeremy Issacharoff for a courtesy call at the State Chancery.
One of the topics of discussion was Saxony’s participation in the “New Kibbutz” scholarship programme. Within the programme’s framework, students can be sent to Israeli companies as interns and supported.
According to the press statement below, Premier Michael Kretschmer said: “Saxony and Israel are linked by friendly and diverse relationships in business, science and culture. With Saxony’s participation in the New Kibbutz scholarship programme, we are promoting the exchange of young people. They get the chance to get to know Israel’s culture of innovation and its unique cultural life and to make new connections. Israel has developed into a modern business location and a centre for start-ups and high-tech companies. This is a great opportunity to gain valuable experience and bring it to Saxony”.
Immediately afterwards, Premier Kretschmer and Ambassador Issacharoff met with students from the Leipzig region who are organised in the Young Forum of the German-Israeli Society Leipzig.
Ambassador Jeremy Issacharoff‘s service in Germany began on 29 August 2017.
For further information:
- Government of the Free State of Saxony: https://www.
ministerpraesident.sachsen.de/ antrittsbesuch-des- botschafters-des-staates- israel-jeremy-issacharoff- 9958.html - Embassy of Israel to Germany: http://embassies.gov.
il/berlin/AboutTheEmbassy/Page s/Botschafter_Issacharoff.aspx
Four spectacular days at the first edition of Sail at Scheveningen
The first edition of Sail at Scheveningen took place last June 20 to 23. As the finishing point for the Liberty Tall Ships Regatta, The Hague’s iconic seaside resort welcomed more than thirty magnificent sailing ships. This event offers many special activities, including a crew parade and the rare chance to board the ships free of charge. Sail at Scheveningen attracted around 60,000 visitors daily.
The 2019 Liberty Tall Ships Regatta (website) coincided with the 75th anniversary of D-Day, and therefore started in Normandy’s port city of Rouen on June 17. Three days later, on Thursday, June 20, this fleet of some thirty superb sailing ships arrived in the port of Scheveningen. The first edition of Sail at Scheveningen will got off to a spectacular start with the Sail-In Parade.
A very special feature of this international maritime event is that the historic ships are not only on show, but can also be entered for free. The fleet consists of replicas of Spanish and Russian ships from the Golden Age and a unique gathering of naval ships from Brazil, France, Mexico, Oman, Romania and the United States. Seven of the tall ships visited the Netherlands for the first time.
During Sail at Scheveningen, The Hague’s seaside resort hosted four days with music, street theater and delicious catering by local food vendors. Each evening concludes with a spectacular fireworks display.
Sail op Scheveningen website, Facebook,Instagram