RAMALLAH, June 7, 2011 (WAFA) - The Palestinian specialized Corruption Cases Court panel and other judges who attended a recent EUPOL COPPS anti-corruption program, participated in a study visit to Italy, facilitated by EUPOL COPPS’s Court Team, Tuesday said an EUPOL COPPS press release.

The visit was also supported financially by the Italian High Judicial Council.

As a component of the anti-corruption program, the study visit focused on functioning working procedures, forensic investigations and international cooperation to fight corruption. The Palestinian judges had several workshops with judges of the Italian Court of Appeal and Court of Cassation in order to exchange information and best practices.

They were welcomed by the head of the Italian Court of Cassation, Judge Ernesto Lupo, and by the head of the Rome Court of Appeal, Judge Giorgio Santacroce, with whom they discussed the differences between the judicial system and the potential links and future cooperation.

The Palestinian judges observed a public hearing of corruption cases, chaired by the head of the first section of the Rome Court, Judge Piero De Crescenzo, who explained, before the hearing, the content of the cases and the related proceedings according to the Italian laws.

The head of the Department for Forensic Investigation, Colonel Luigi Ripani, received the Palestinian judges and provided an exhaustive tour of the main forensic laboratories departments: finger prints, ballistics, DNA and forgery.

The last two days, the Italian High Judicial Council provided the study visit participants with the opportunity to attend the training course on international cooperation in the fight against corruption. During the training, the Palestinian delegation met several representatives of the Italian High Judicial Council.

M.A.