RAMALLAH, June 7, 2011 (WAFA) - Palestinian Corruption Court panel and other judges who attended a recent Anti-corruption programme, Tuesday participated in a study visit to Italy, facilitated by EUPOL COPPS’s Court Team, according to their press release.

European Union Police Coordinating Office for Palestinian Police Support (EUPOL COPPS) press release said that the visit was financially supported by the Italian High Judicial Council.

It said that the Palestinian delegation included Head of the Corruption Cases Court, Judge Hussein Obeidat, as well as the other two members of the panel, Judge Belal Abu Huntsh and Judge Izzeddin Shaheen.

Head of Bethlehem First Instance Court, Judge Emad Msawdeh, and the Ramallah Court of Appeal, Judge Ashraf Iriqat, also joined the visit, it stated.

It said that the study visit focused on functioning working procedures, forensic investigations and international cooperation to fight corruption, as a component of the Anti-corruption programme.

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, according to the release.

The press release said that they were welcomed by Head of the Italian Court of Cassation, Judge Ernesto Lupo, and Head of the Rome Court of Appeal, Judge Giorgio Santacroce.

They discussed the differences between the judicial system and the potential links and future cooperation, it said.

It also said that 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.

It added that the Head of the Carabinieri RIS (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 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, the release said.

It said that the Palestinian delegation met several representatives of the Italian High Judicial Council during the training.

M.H./F.R.