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Using the tools of investigative journalism, The Center for Investigative Media followed the assets of some the most important high level officials that have been convicted through definitive decisions and shows if the state managed to take away from them what they obtained through their crimes and should have been confiscated, according to the final decisions of the judiciary.

The policy paper launched at the conference is based on real and explicit situations raised from a monitoring process conducted by the means of investigative journalism, real examples of how the state actually fails or manages to confiscate assets from the corrupt convicted Romanian politicians and businessmen. The Center for Investigative Media "follows the money" that is supposed to be confiscated, according to the final decisions of the judges.

This research aims to identify specific institutional vulnerabilities allowing the development of corruption patterns, focusing on the means the prosecuted or the convicted officials hide their valuables in order to prevent the state from reaching and taking them.

The roundtable discussion was co-organized with the KAS Rule of Law Programme South East Europa and the Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands in Romania.

Among the speakers at the event were the Dutch Ambassador, the DNA chief prosecutor, prosecutors from DIICOT, the Office of the General Prosecutor, several members of the Romanian parliament, representatives from ANABI, ANAF and from the judiciary. In total, more than 30 experts participated in the discussion.

Open discussions involved all parties, aiming to strengthen the inter-institutional cooperation. Bureaucracy, the lack of special evacuation procedures, the insolvency legislation as well as co-ownership of goods regulations are some of the key drawbacks in the process of assets recovery.

The investigations are available at: www.investigatiimedia.ro