Jeddah: Dr. Ali bin Fadhel Al Buainain, the Attorney General, led the Kingdom of Bahrain's delegation to the inaugural annual general meeting of the Middle East and North Africa Asset Recovery Inter-Agency Network (MENA-ARIN), which took place in Jeddah on October 8-9. The event was held under the auspices of Saudi Arabia's Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority (Nazaha), the network's permanent secretariat.
According to Bahrain News Agency, this first meeting signified the official launch of MENA-ARIN, which is focused on improving cooperation for the effective recovery of illicit assets across the region. The Bahraini delegation included officials from the Public Prosecution, the Ministry of Interior through the Financial Intelligence National Centre (FINC) and Anti-Corruption Crime Department, as well as the Ministry of Justice, Islamic Affairs, and Endowments.
The network aims to develop collaborative mechanisms among member states to identify, trace, freeze, and recover illicit assets while adhering to national and international laws and standards. It promotes cooperation by establishing efficient contact points, secure information exchange technologies, capacity building in asset recovery and management, harmonizing legal frameworks, and working with financial institutions and the private sector. Additionally, it seeks to strengthen partnerships with international organizations and similar regional networks.
The Attorney General highlighted Bahrain's advanced national cooperation systems that efficiently handle mutual assistance requests. He noted the Public Prosecutor's guideline for asset recovery and confiscation requests, and a risk document that outlines indicators of money laundering and terrorist financing for early detection and recovery of illicit funds. He expressed optimism that MENA-ARIN will unify national strategies and improve communication among states.
The meeting also discussed challenges in asset recovery cooperation and reviewed regional accomplishments. Participants shared perspectives on the network's future role in fostering international cooperation and enhancing recovery mechanisms. A statement of intent was adopted to establish the network, reinforcing collective efforts, transparency, and cooperation, along with a charter that outlines governance principles, responsibilities, and operational procedures.
On the sidelines, Dr. Al Buainain met with Mazin bin Ibrahim Al Kahmous, President of Nazaha, to explore ways to enhance joint cooperation on integrity protection and combating cross-border financial crimes, among other mutual interests.