Building prosecutorial capacity for suppression of corruption in Serbia

Kolaković-Bojović, Milica and Matić Bošković, Marina (2025) Building prosecutorial capacity for suppression of corruption in Serbia. In: Contemporary forensic accounting trends in combating financial fraud: global and national perspectives. University of Belgrade, Faculty of Economics and Business, Belgrade, pp. 245-258. ISBN 978-86-403-1894-5

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Abstract

The effective suppression of corruption requires specialized and well-prepared prosecutors equipped with targeted knowledge, practical skills, and an in-depth understanding of complex financial and corruption-related offenses. In Serbia, public prosecutors working in special departments for the suppression of corruption within higher prosecutor’s offices play a key role in advancing institutional integrity and accountability. However, despite the strategic importance of these departments in suppression of corruption, there is currently no structured introductory training program or standardized curriculum to guide newly appointed prosecutors in this area of work. The lack of a systematic introductory training program poses significant challenges to ensuring consistent prosecutorial performance, ethical standards, and inter-institutional cooperation. The paper assesses the specific training needs of prosecutors newly appointed to these departments, with a focus on core competencies required for handling high-profile corruption cases. It analyzes gaps in the existing training framework and reviews relevant international practices and standards. Based on this assessment, the article proposes the development of a structured introductory training curriculum tailored to the demands of anti-corruption prosecution, including modules on financial investigations, asset recovery, use of digital evidence, cooperation with tax and police authorities, and protection of whistleblowers. It further explores the institutional options for embedding such a program within the existing framework of the Judicial Academy and proposes mechanisms for periodic revision and quality assurance. The paper argues that a formalized introductory program would significantly enhance prosecutorial effectiveness and strengthen public confidence in the integrity of corruption prosecution.

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