Taiwan and Nauru Signed the Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters on August 7, 2019

“Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters between the Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) and the Government of the Republic of Nauru” was signed by Minister of Justice of R.O.C., Ching-hsiang Tsai, and Minister of Justice and Border Control of Nauru, David Adeang, in the Ministry of Justice, on August 7, 2019. Following those concluded with the U.S., Mainland China, the Philippines, South Africa and Poland, this Treaty is the sixth of its kind that Taiwan has entered with a foreign country/jurisdiction; it is also the second one being inked in two months after the Taiwan-Poland Legal Cooperation Agreement, which fully demonstrates the strong determination of the Ministry of Justice to fight crimes alongside the world.   

The Ministry of Justice has been working closely with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Embassy of the Republic of China in Nauru during the two years’ negotiation. After the Treaty enters into force, Taiwan and Nauru will be able to render each other assistance in the process of criminal investigation, prosecution, court procedure and crime prevention. It covers: taking the testimony/statements; providing documents; locating or identifying persons/items; serving documents; conducting searches and seizures; freezing or forfeiture of assets; and other assistance in compliance with laws. It is worth mentioning that the treaty allows taking of evidence via video conference and that the requesting party can be at presence of the interviews to pose questions if permitted. These means enable the authorities of Taiwan and Nauru to work as a joint investigation team and to combat transnational crimes more efficiently and effectively.

During the visit to Taiwan, Minister David Adeang met with Justice Minister Ching-hsiang Tsai and exchanged views on judicial cooperation. They both recognized that the signing of the Treaty would ensure a direct and prompt connection between the two judicial systems, and bring better solution to the drug trafficking, telecom fraud and other cross-border crimes that confront the world and especially the Asia-pacific region.