Taiwan and the Marshall Islands concluded the Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters May 14 in Taipei City, underscoring the allies’ commitment to deepening ties and combating cross-border crime for mutual benefit.
According to the Ministry of Justice, the treaty was signed by MOJ Minister Cheng Ming-chien and Marshall Islands Minister of Justice, Immigration and Labor Wisely Zackhras. Vice Foreign Minister Remus Li-kuo Chen, Marshall Islands Attorney General Bernard Adiniwin and Amb. Anjanette Kattil witnessed the signing.
Under negotiation since 2023, the treaty posits that both countries will expand assistance and cooperation in areas such as taking testimony or statements; providing documents, records and articles of evidence; locating or identifying persons of interest; serving documents; and facilitating requests for searches and seizures, among other matters.
In particular, the MOJ said the pact allows obtaining testimony or statement by videoconference or in a remote location. This approach is in line with technological advancements and will reduce the time required for law enforcement, the ministry added.
According to the MOJ, the treaty is testament to its efforts to work with the global community to crack down on trans-border criminal activities. It follows those with allies Belize, Nauru, Palau, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Tuvalu, as well as Germany, Japan, Poland, Slovakia, South Korea and the U.S. (SFC-E)
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