US legal team trains Iraqi investigators

TIKRIT — Twenty-one Iraqi investigators from Ninewa, Diyala, Salah ad Din and Kirkuk provs. attended a Financial Crimes Investigation Course on COB Speicher, Nov. 22 - 25.

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The course was taught by members of the Int'l Crime Investigation Training and Assistance Program, in partnership with the U.S. State Dept's Salah ad Din PRT and the Legal Office of the 4th IBCT, 1st ID out of Fort Riley, Kan. The course was designed to advise investigators from Iraq's Commission of Integrity on a myriad of tasks including case development, investigative planning, anti-money laundering and advanced interview techniques. "This course provided these young investigators with the tools necessary to start investigations into corruption,” said Maj. Wade Faulkner, Brigade Judge Advocate for the 4th IBCT. “What they learned here this week will help them make the transition to practical application of the law in corruption based cases." For investigators, the opportunity to learn how to prevent corruption, and establish the rule of law within their provs. was invaluable. "As of right now, most things are theoretical,” commented one investigator, who wished to remain unnamed for security reasons. “I hope that I'll be able to use what I've learned in the real world." "The goal for one day is that justice will be for everyone," said another student investigator.

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