TACTICAL PARTICULARITIES OF INTERROGATION IN THE INVESTIGATION OF MONEY LAUNDERING OFFENSES

LEGEA ŞI VIAŢA Publicaţie ştiinţifico-practică 8 aprilie-iunie 2025 LAW AND LIFE Scientific-practical publication April-June 2025 CZU: 343.37 TACTICAL PARTICULARITIES OF INTERROGATION IN THE INVESTIGATION OF MONEY LAUNDERING OFFENSES Abstract: This article explores the complexity of interrogation tactics in the investigation of the crime of money laundering, highlighting the central role of this procedural action in reconstructing sophisticated and concealed criminal mechanisms. The study analyzes the frequency and effectiveness of interrogations in criminal cases, addressing separately the interrogation of suspects/accused persons, witnesses, experts, and other participants depending on their procedural status, level of involvement, and type of information held. DOI 10.5281/zenodo.17606139 1 Conferențiaruniversitar,doctorhabilitatîndrept,rector,Academia„ȘtefancelMare”aMAIalRepublicii Moldova(ROR:https://ror.org/036kvxa54);e-mail:[email protected];ORCIDID:0000-0001-53173296;e-mail:[email protected] 2 Conferențiaruniversitar,doctorîndrept,șef,Catedra„Procedurăpenală,criminalisticășisecuritateinformațională”,Academia„ȘtefancelMare”aMAIalRepubliciiMoldova(ROR:https://ror.org/036kvxa54); e-mail:[email protected],ORCID:0000-0002-8122-7711,e-mail:[email protected] 3 Doctorand, Școala doctorală „Științe penale și drept public”, Academia „Ștefan cel Mare” a MAI al Republicii Moldova (ROR: https://ror.org/036kvxa54); e-mail: [email protected]; avocat, Baroul Prahova,România;ORCIDID:0009-0008-1763-3951;e-mail:[email protected] Studii și comentarii Dinu OSTAVCIUC1 [email protected] Bogdan Cătălin PĂUN3 [email protected] Constantin RUSNAC2 [email protected] LEGEA ŞI VIAŢA Publicaţie ştiinţifico-practică9 aprilie-iunie 2025 LAW AND LIFE Scientific-practical publication April-June 2025 The paper emphasizes the importance of adapting the interrogation tactic according to the nature of the subjects' social and professional relationships, their degree of cooperation, and the documentary nature of the evidentiary material. It discusses methods for fostering cooperation, managing the influence of the defense counsel, the particularities of confrontation in adversarial contexts, and the use of psychological strategies to elicit the truth. The conclusion underscores that, in the context of economic and financial crimes, interrogation is not merely a formal instrument, but a key investigative method capable of clarifying the offender’s intent, the flow of illicit funds, and the connections among participants. Keywords: interrogation tactics, forensics, money laundering, testimonial evidence, criminal investigation, confrontation, evidentiary statements. PARTICULARITĂȚI TACTICE ALE INTEROGATORIULUI ÎN INVESTIGAȚIA INFRACȚIUNILOR DE SPĂLARE A BANILOR Abstract: Acest articol explorează complexitatea tacticilor de interogare în investigarea infracțiunii de spălare a banilor, evidențiind rolul central al acestei acțiuni procedurale în reconstructia unor mecanisme penale sofisticate și ascunse. Studiul analizează frecvența și eficiența interogatoriilor în cauzele penale, abordând separat interogatoriul suspecților/acuzaților, martorilor, experților și altor participanți, în funcție de statutul procedural, nivelul de implicare și tipul de informații deținute. În lucrare se subliniază importanța adaptării tacticii de interogare în funcție de natura relațiilor sociale și profesionale ale subiecților, de gradul lor de cooperare și de natura documentară a materialului probatoriu. De asemenea, sunt metode pentru promovarea cooperării, gestionarea influenței avocatului apărării, particularitățile confruntării în contexte adversative și utilizarea strategiilor psihologice pentru obținerea adevărului. Concluzia subliniază faptul că, în contextul crimelor economice și financiare, interogatoriul nu reprezintă doar un instrument formal, ci o metodă investigativă esențială capabilă să clarifice intenția făptuitorului, fluxul de fonduri ilicite și conexiunile între participanți. Cuvinte-cheie: tactici de interogare, criminalistică, spălare a banilor, probe testimoniale, investigație penală, confruntare, declarații probatorii. INTRODUCTION Within the framework of criminal investigation, interrogation constitutes one of the most frequent and decisive procedural actions, enabling the investigative authority to obtain verbal information of evidentiary value—indispensable for reconstructing the truth in the case. This activity becomes even more significant in the investigation of the crime of money laundering, a phenomenon characterized by a high degree of concealment, a complex operational architecture, and a constant interplay between the appearance of legality and the criminal essence of the financial operations involved. Although documentary evidence dominates the array of probative means in such cases, interrogation remains the only method capable of capturing the subjective intent of the participants, clarifying individual roles, and outlining the relationships between actors involved in the process of legalizing illicit funds. The diversity of the categories of persons interviewed requires a continuous adjustment of interrogation tactics to reflect not only legal standards but also the behavioral and psychological realities of procedural subjects. This paper aims to investigate the tactical particularities of interrogation in the context of money laundering cases, emphasizing the importance of rigorous planning, the LEGEA ŞI VIAŢA Publicaţie ştiinţifico-practică 10 aprilie-iunie 2025 LAW AND LIFE Scientific-practical publication April-June 2025 appropriate use of documentary evidence, and the strategic interaction with the interviewees as defining elements of an efficient and truth-oriented investigation. APPLIEDMETHODSANDMATERIALS The scientific approach was based on a mixed methodology combining doctrinal analysis with the practical examination of judicial practice. Classical methods of legal research were applied, including comparative analysis of procedural-criminal regulations on interrogation, correlated with the systematic interpretation of relevant forensic literature. In parallel, a qualitative method was used to analyze criminal cases resolved by courts in the Republic of Moldova concerning money laundering offenses, focusing on how interrogations were conducted, the procedural status of the interviewees, the typology of their statements, and their impact on evidentiary construction. The empirical material was supplemented by the study of statistical charts regarding the frequency of interrogation, the category of participants involved, and the impact of procedural confrontation. These data allowed for the formulation of conclusions concerning the efficiency and adaptability of interrogation tactics, as well as the identification of gaps or vulnerabilities in their application. Overall, the research is grounded in an interdisciplinary approach that integrates legal, forensic, and psychological perspectives to build a tactical model suited to the specificities of economic-financial offenses. RESEARCHOBJECTIVE The primary objective of this research is to identify and analyze the tactical particularities of interrogation within the investigation of money laundering offenses, with a focus on the methodological adaptation of this procedural action to the concealed, technical, and complex nature of the investigated conduct. The study seeks to highlight the essential role of statements in complementing and contextualizing documentary evidence, to define operational criteria for the selection and effective handling of subjects to be interrogated, and to propose concrete forensic strategies that may enhance the evidentiary value of the information obtained. In this sense, the research aims to provide an integrated, practice-oriented perspective designed to optimize the conduct of interrogations in economic-financial cases and to contribute to the improvement of the quality of criminal justice. DISCUSSIONSANDRESULTSOBTAINED In accordance with the conceptual provisions of criminal procedural science and forensic theory, interrogation represents the principal procedural method for obtaining statements that reflect verbal information with evidentiary relevance in investigative activity. In our view, the issue of developing an effective algorithm for conducting interrogations—as well as the tactics for obtaining highly informative statements, overcoming tendencies to provide false declarations, eliminating psychological barriers, and reconstructing forgotten information—has been extensively addressed in specialized literature by authors in the fields of criminal procedure and forensic science. These aspects have also been analyzed in correlation with the procedural status of the interviewed person, since their legal position determines the specific tactics to LEGEA ŞI VIAŢA Publicaţie ştiinţifico-practică11 aprilie-iunie 2025 LAW AND LIFE Scientific-practical publication April-June 2025 be applied—whether they are a defendant, a witness, or a victim1. Given that verbal information holds essential evidentiary value in the investigation of most crimes, regardless of their nature or severity, interrogation stands out as one of the most frequently employed criminal procedural actions. In this regard, the offense of money laundering is no exception. Although information encoded in documents and financial-accounting records carries significant evidentiary weight, certain segments of criminal activity cannot be directly captured in the documentation seized. Instead, they are stored in the awareness of key individuals such as witnesses, victims, or—naturally— the perpetrators themselves. Consequently, interrogation plays a vital role in supplementing and contextualizing material evidence, offering the investigative officer the opportunity to reconstruct, based on statements, the criminal mechanism, the subjective intent, and the relationships between participants—elements that are crucial for establishing the truth in money laundering cases. In the investigation of money laundering offenses, interrogation, along with document examination, is one of the most commonly used procedural actions. Although such cases are characterized by their highly technical nature and the presence of strong documentary evidence, testimonial evidence continues to play a key role in reconstructing the factual context, determining relationships among participants, and clarifying their subjective intent. As emphasized in the legal doctrine, “testimony remains a fundamental evidentiary tool”2, despite technological advancements and the increasing predominance of electronic documents in criminal proceedings. The analysis of judicial practice in money laundering cases has demonstrated the frequent use of interrogation in comparison to other procedural actions and special investigative measures (see Diagram no. 1). Diagram no. 1. “The Frequency of Interrogation Usage” 1 Belkin, A.R. Interrogation of the Expert as a Procedural Action. In: Theory and Practice of Forensic Expertise in Modern Conditions: Proceedings of the International Scientific-Practical Conference. Moscow: Prospekt Publishing House, 2007, pp. 97–99; Konovalov, S.I., Motorin, A.S. Interrogation in Criminal Procedure: Issues of the Relationship Between Procedural and Tactical Aspects. Monograph. Rostov-on-Don: Publishing House of the Law Institute of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, 2008. 2 Gherasim Dumitru, Rusu Lucia. Forms and Techniques of Hearing in the Context of Judicial Investigation in Criminal Proceedings: Theoretical and Practical Reflections, pp. 204 [accessed on 15.04.2025]. Available at: https://ibn.idsi.md/sites/default/files/imag_file/204-211_4.pdf. LEGEA ŞI VIAŢA Publicaţie ştiinţifico-practică 12 aprilie-iunie 2025 LAW AND LIFE Scientific-practical publication April-June 2025 This high frequency underscores the importance of direct interaction with procedural subjects, particularly given that money laundering offenses involve complex structures, successive transactions, and concealed relationships among actors. The analysis of the examined cases revealed several categories of interrogated persons, each providing a distinct type of information relevant to clarifying the case. In all reviewed cases, defendants were subjected to interrogation, registering a frequency of 100%, which confirms the crucial significance of this procedural action during the criminal investigation phase. The interrogation of the defendant is regarded not merely as a procedural obligation, but as a critical moment for shaping the investigative hypotheses. Even in situations where the defendants refused to provide substantive statements, simply documenting their procedural position and analyzing their nonverbal behavior served as valuable sources of information for investigators. By contrast, various categories of witnesses were interrogated in 82.5% of the cases, a fact clearly illustrated in Diagram no. 2, which highlights the distribution of their participation in the interrogation process. Diagram no. 2. Category and Distribution of Witnesses Interrogated The witnesses came from various socio-professional backgrounds, reflecting the complexity of the mechanisms used to legalize illicit funds. Representatives of banks and financial institutions provided data concerning account openings, fund movements, unusual transactions, or suspicious contractual relationships. Accountants and company administrators were directly or indirectly involved in managing the economic entities used to conceal the illicit origin of assets. Notaries were summoned to clarify the circumstances under which legal documents—such as sales contracts, donations, or notarized powers of attorney—were drawn up, serving as instruments for obscuring the origin of the goods. Colleagues of the defendants contributed to identifying the behavior, responsibilities, and professional relationships of the suspects. Relatives or close associates of the defendants were questioned about the origin of acquired assets or the justification of transactions carried out in their favor, in order to rule out potential complicity or the use of their identity as a front. Technical and financial experts were called to explain the methodologies applied in scientific and technical findings, to support their conclusions, or to clarify specialized documents examined in the case. Accordingly, interrogation proves to be an indispensable tool for reconstructing the LEGEA ŞI VIAŢA Publicaţie ştiinţifico-practică13 aprilie-iunie 2025 LAW AND LIFE Scientific-practical publication April-June 2025 facts and consolidating the body of evidence, especially in cases characterized by a high degree of economic and financial sophistication, such as money laundering offenses. The presence and diversity of the categories of persons interrogated reflect the need to gather complementary information, enabling the correlation and interpretation of documentary evidence within a coherent logical and factual framework. Although sometimes challenged by the defense on the grounds of presumed subjectivity, interrogation has played a key role in strengthening the evidentiary framework in money laundering cases, significantly contributing to reconstructing the criminal trajectory and to individualizing criminal liability. Judicial practice has demonstrated that interrogation can provide revealing elements, particularly when corroborated with other means of proof. Thus, interrogation was primarily instrumental in confirming the existence of relationships between defendants and the economic entities involved in the process of fund legalization. In approximately 60% of the analyzed cases, witness statements revealed indirect yet significant links between the investigated individuals and commercial entities that appeared autonomous but were, in fact, controlled or influenced by the defendants. Secondly, interrogation served as an effective tool for verifying the authenticity and legitimacy of documents presented in the criminal case. In about 45% of cases, witness statements either confirmed or raised doubts about the veracity of certain records, helping to establish their evidentiary value within the criminal investigation. Another significant aspect was the role of interrogation in proving the subjective element of the offense. In half of the cases (50%), both the defendants’ and witnesses’ statements were used to demonstrate that the investigated individuals had knowledge of the illicit origin of the funds being laundered. These testimonies were relied upon by criminal investigation authorities to support the existence of either direct or conditional intent in the commission of the offense. It is also noteworthy that in certain cases (12.5%), the courts identified contradictions in witness statements. However, rather than excluding these from the evidentiary body, the courts critically analyzed and used them to outline the factual context and to indirectly support the prosecution’s version. This approach reflects the principle of free evaluation of evidence and highlights the importance of interpreting the entire body of evidence integratively, even when certain statements may initially appear inconclusive or contradictory. Therefore, interrogation remains a crucial component in the evidentiary process of money laundering investigations—not only through its direct contribution to establishing the facts, but also through its capacity to lend coherence to other means of proof, ultimately supporting the foundation of a fair and equitable judicial outcome. The analysis of the content of statements obtained through interrogations conducted in money laundering cases reveals a series of recurring patterns in declarative behavior—both from defendants and witnesses—with significant evidentiary relevance. In approximately half of the analyzed cases, defendants adopted a position of categorical denial regarding their involvement in the criminal activities under investigation. This attitude was frequently supported by subjective justifications, such as the formal transfer of business management to close third parties (“friends” or acquaintances), or the alleged lack of control over the bank accounts used. Such statements, although framed in a defensive tone, were often contradicted by other forms of evidence, particularly financial LEGEA ŞI VIAŢA Publicaţie ştiinţifico-practică 14 aprilie-iunie 2025 LAW AND LIFE Scientific-practical publication April-June 2025 and accounting documents or expert conclusions. Conversely, statements made by professionally affiliated witnesses—especially bank officials and corporate accountants—played an essential role. In a significant number of cases, these witnesses described atypical transactions characterized by a lack of economic justification, contractual incoherence, or operational behavior inconsistent with the logic of legitimate commercial activity. These findings, expressed as professional assessments by the witnesses, were interpreted by the courts as relevant indicators of simulated conduct, typical of attempts to conceal the illicit origin of funds. A distinct aspect was represented by the evasive statements offered by witnesses closely associated with the defendants, observed in approximately 25% of the analyzed cases. In such situations, witnesses—usually family members or individuals from the defendants’ close circle—provided unclear, incomplete, or contradictory accounts, suggesting an intent to protect the persons under investigation. Even in the absence of formal charges for aiding and abetting, the courts approached such statements with caution, analyzing them within the broader context of the evidence presented. Therefore, the content of the statements obtained during interrogations reflects not only the procedural positioning of the interviewees but also their defense strategy, level of cooperation, and intent to either obscure or clarify the facts. All of these aspects are crucial for the investigative authority’s conclusions and for the court’s evaluation of the evidence. Nevertheless, the mere high frequency of interrogations does not automatically guarantee a corresponding level of evidentiary efficiency. Judicial experience and the analysis of complex money laundering cases show that, in certain situations, a large number of statements may lead to informational oversaturation, contradictions, or the dilution of evidentiary relevance. Thus, a high number of interrogated persons in a case does not necessarily correspond to a higher degree of factual clarification, especially when the statements are not corroborated by other forms of evidence or are not obtained using tactics suited to each witness’s declarative profile. Although legal scholarship3 has, to some extent, addressed the procedural aspects of interrogations in such cases, we believe that the analysis of statement-gathering tactics in these files still requires further elaboration and adaptation. In particular, there is a pressing need for a nuanced approach that considers the specificity of each witness category, the nature and role of the information they may provide, and the context in which this information was acquired. In the analyzed cases, the witnesses questioned came from heterogeneous professional backgrounds and provided information that varied both in volume and evidentiary value, necessitating a careful selection of questions and a differentiated tactical strategy. Among them were: public officials with decision-making authority—such as judges, notaries, or other representatives of public institutions—who could offer data regarding the recognition or transfer of patrimonial rights used to legalize illicitly obtained assets; employees in auxiliary or technical roles within institutional or commercial structures, whose observations might reveal peripheral yet useful aspects of the criminal mecha3 Slavgorodskaya, O.A. Interrogation of Witnesses as a Source of Information in the Investigation of the Legalization (Laundering) of Money or Other Assets Acquired by Other Persons through Criminal Means and by the Person Himself as a Result of Committing a Crime. In: Current Issues of Russian Law. 2008. No. 4 (9), pp. 362–368. LEGEA ŞI VIAŢA Publicaţie ştiinţifico-practică15 aprilie-iunie 2025 LAW AND LIFE Scientific-practical publication April-June 2025 nism; and representatives of the economic sector—such as real estate agents, employees of companies involved in transactions, or providers of goods and services—who could confirm the execution of operations with a simulated or economically unjustified nature. A distinct category is represented by witnesses who, although not directly involved in the criminal activity, happened to witness key moments in the predicate offense or in the process of fund concealment. Also relevant are law enforcement officers or representatives of other public institutions who identified signs of money laundering while investigating other crimes or during the apprehension of the perpetrators. These witnesses contribute significantly to reconstructing the illicit trajectory of the funds. This diversity of subjects involved in the interrogation process requires constant adaptation by the investigative authorities, who must display flexibility in identifying the most effective methods to foster cooperation, validate the statements obtained, and integrate them coherently into the body of evidence. In the absence of such adaptability, the interrogation risks becoming a mere procedural formality, lacking real impact on the judicial truth-finding process. Therefore, the effectiveness of interrogations in money laundering cases should not be measured quantitatively, but rather in terms of coherence, consistency, and their capacity to supplement, explain, or confirm other types of evidence within a rigorous investigation framework aimed at clarifying all constituent elements of the offense. The subjects of interrogation in criminal cases involving money laundering can provide essential information depending on their direct perception of certain facts relevant to the case. The specific nature of their position stems both from the type of contact they had with the main actors and from the quality and source of the information they possess. Within this context, several general directions of interest emerge, useful in reconstructing the relationships and operations under investigation. A first important aspect concerns the person’s workplace, position held, and professional duties, particularly any direct or indirect connections with the facts that are the subject of the investigation. It is also essential to determine whether the witness knew the beneficiaries of the presumed criminal activity or any other persons involved, and if so, the nature of their relationship, how they met, who initiated contact, and under what circumstances the witness observed or recognized their physical or behavioral traits. Furthermore, the interrogation aims to gather identifying information or other relevant data about persons of interest—whether from direct sources (statements, presented documents) or indirect sources (other interlocutors or personal observations). It is important to establish whether the documents presented by the involved individuals were official (e.g., identity documents, financial records, powers of attorney, or mandates of representation). Additionally, the interrogation will examine in detail the context of the interactions: the place, time frame, duration, and nature of the contact between the witness and the persons under investigation, who initiated it, the topics discussed, and whether there were any proposals or requests that deviated from legal norms or commercial practices. In cases where the conversations involved financial resources or material assets, the estimated value, type (amounts, currency, objects), and any relevant characteristics will be documented. Also relevant are the witness’s reactions to potential proposals or pressures—whether they accepted, refused, or hesitated—and the motivations behind their decisions. The LEGEA ŞI VIAŢA Publicaţie ştiinţifico-practică 16 aprilie-iunie 2025 LAW AND LIFE Scientific-practical publication April-June 2025 concrete actions undertaken by each party during the discussions or negotiations will be recorded, including the outcome of the interaction (contract signing, agreement conclusion, service provision, or other types of arrangements) and whether there were any discrepancies between the verbally agreed terms and those reflected in the subsequently drafted documents. Another important aspect concerns the process of drafting the documentation: who, where, and how the documents were prepared—whether they were drafted on the spot, brought already signed and stamped, or whether there were any objections to their content. Equally relevant is the method of payment between the parties—the timing, the amounts involved, the payment instruments used, the persons involved, and any suspicious circumstances surrounding the transaction. It is also essential to determine whether and how the obligations assumed by the parties were fulfilled, whether any conflicts or misunderstandings arose, their causes, and how they were resolved. An evaluation must be conducted to establish whether the non-performance of obligations resulted from the decisions of either party, whether these actions generated significant damage, and to identify the nature, magnitude, and evidentiary basis of such harm. Finally, it is important to clarify when and how the relationship between the parties ended—whether through completion of the contract, the occurrence of an external event, or the unilateral withdrawal of one party. All these elements help build a detailed picture of the social, professional, or economic interactions within which the mechanism of concealing the illicit origin of assets may be embedded, thus allowing a pertinent assessment of the witness’s level of involvement or possible complicity. A particular characteristic of witness interviews in money laundering cases lies in the participation of witnesses from public authorities empowered to make decisions with significant legal impact—decisions that directly influence the legal regime of assets subjected to the laundering process. In such cases, procedural complexity is heightened by the special status of these individuals, such as judges, who, while enjoying institutional authority and procedural immunity, may also be summoned as witnesses in criminal proceedings. This duality creates a delicate, and at times conflicting, framework, in which criminal investigators must act with utmost caution and refined tactical professionalism. In practice, it has been observed that even when the questioning of judges is formally allowed, their testimonies are often limited to general statements marked by reservations and appeals to memory lapses due to the passage of time. Thus, key elements such as participants’ courtroom behavior, the dynamics of evidence presentation, or the deliberative atmosphere often remain unclear, reducing the probative value of such testimony. Moreover, law enforcement bodies often exhibit reluctance to apply rigorous questioning methods, possibly out of a latent concern not to affect the perceived neutrality of the court. Nevertheless, when such interviews are legally permissible, they must be conducted professionally, using carefully calibrated tactical techniques to stimulate memory recall, reconstruct relevant sequences, and clarify critical circumstances. We therefore recommend that such questioning be preceded by rigorous thematic planning, with a clearly defined and delimited objective, based on the essential events of the case. Using topic-focused questions, rather than a general approach, may help steer the discussion toward relevant episodes and improve the quality of the information ob- LEGEA ŞI VIAŢA Publicaţie ştiinţifico-practică23 aprilie-iunie 2025 LAW AND LIFE Scientific-practical publication April-June 2025 lating and counteracting potential adversarial behaviors, the investigative authority can adjust its tactical discourse and steer the interaction toward the desired outcome. Within this framework, two reflexive methods have proven effective. The first involves the progressive use of documentary content: in the initial stage, only those documents that clearly contradict the suspect’s claims regarding specific episodes should be introduced. Based on the reactions observed, the questioning can then be extended to other incidents for which direct evidence may not yet exist. The second method exploits the suspect’s lack of knowledge about the positions adopted by their accomplices. Considering the transnational or decentralized structure of many criminal organizations, this uncertainty can be strategically leveraged to induce a state of psychological tension and ambiguity by presenting a comprehensive narrative that implies the imminent collapse of the entire criminal network. From a forensic perspective, several tactical approaches can be employed, such as “maintaining informational ignorance,” “creating a state of logical pressure,” or “persuading the suspect of the inefficiency of their adopted position.”14 These techniques do not involve any form of physical coercion or violation of fundamental rights but are instead investigative strategies based on dialogue, reasoning, and behavioral modeling. A particularly valuable tactic at this stage is associated with the communication of reasonable suspicion. In most cases, the initial interview also constitutes the first direct interaction between the suspect and the criminal investigation authority. In this context, it is advisable that the suspicion be articulated in general terms, without fully disclosing the factual grounds. This approach creates favorable conditions for an effective interview, during which, under the impact of the applied tactics, the suspect may provide information that exceeds the known evidentiary framework, potentially revealing previously unknown episodes or identifying additional participants. This method proves especially relevant in money laundering investigations, as even after extensive covert operations, the investigative body often possesses only fragmented, incomplete data with a limited degree of certainty. An analysis of judicial practice supports the conclusion that, during the suspect’s initial interview, the use of broadly framed questions combined with requests for specific and concrete answers constitutes an effective tactic. This approach enables the investigating officer to conceal existing informational gaps, projecting an image of detailed knowledge of the case circumstances. In doing so, a favorable psychological imbalance is created, encouraging the suspect to provide relevant details in an attempt to justify their position. Subsequently, depending on the information obtained and the evolution of the informational-tactical context, the questions can be progressively reformulated and clarified, allowing for continuous adaptation of the interview strategy. This dynamic turns the suspect’s interview into a heuristic procedure, where each new question is conditioned and guided by the responses previously received—following the methodological model whereby “subsequent inquiry is shaped by prior information obtained.”15. On the other hand, in cases where the criminal investigation officer possesses a solid and detailed body of evidence, the questions posed may be formulated with a higher 14 Cazan, Elena; Matei, Daniela; Gavriș, Radu. Interview Tactics in the Criminal Process: A Guide to Best Practices. Târgu Jiu: Măiastra, 2020, pp. 39–47. 15 Osoianu, Tudor et al. Tactics of Criminal Investigation Actions. Chișinău, 2020, p. 177. LEGEA ŞI VIAŢA Publicaţie ştiinţifico-practică 24 aprilie-iunie 2025 LAW AND LIFE Scientific-practical publication April-June 2025 degree of specificity and depth, including extensive detailing. This strategy aims to convey the impression that the investigating authority has a comprehensive understanding of the facts and the criminal mechanism, which may prompt the suspect to cooperate, confirm certain information, or even provide additional details. Another crucial aspect of the interview strategy concerns the presence of the defense counsel during the procedure. It is essential that the investigating officer pays close attention to the role and conduct of the defense attorney. From both procedural and forensic-tactical perspectives, it is unacceptable for the counsel to respond on behalf of the suspect or to interfere actively in the dialogue between the suspect and the investigative body. Statements must be made solely by the person being interviewed, consciously and independently. The defense attorney’s role at this procedural stage is limited to offering confidential legal advice prior to the interview; during the hearing itself, their interventions must remain brief and strictly advisory in nature16. Any form of substituting the direct expression of the suspect risks compromising not only the authenticity of the statements but also the effectiveness of the forensic tactics, reducing the process to a mere formality devoid of probative value. Legal consultations offered during the interview must never turn into a “teleprompting role”17, where the defense counsel provides answers or formulates statements on behalf of the suspect. Any such attempts to override the suspect’s procedural will must be explicitly recorded in the interview transcript, as they constitute impermissible influence on the conduct of the criminal procedure. It is imperative that the criminal investigation body document any intervention by the defense that exceeds the limits of legal consultation—including attempts to answer in place of the suspect—to preserve the procedural integrity of the act. In the context of money laundering investigations, the spatial positioning of the defense counsel relative to the interviewee takes on special tactical importance. Therefore, we consider it both tactically and procedurally justified for the attorney to be seated outside the suspect’s direct line of sight during the interview. This measure is intended to prevent any form of nonverbal communication—intentional or not—between the attorney and the interviewee, as such interactions could undermine the authenticity and spontaneity of the statements. It is well recognized in the forensic literature that, in tense settings, suspects can be influenced through gestures, facial expressions, or other subtle signals from their counsel18. Even in the absence of an overt intent to influence, such manifestations can alter the behavior of the person being questioned and significantly diminish the probative value of the statements provided. In money laundering cases, where evasive responses and strategically crafted procedural positions are frequently encountered, eliminating any source of influence becomes imperative. In this regard, the argument that such a measure would constitute a restriction of the right to defense is unfounded. The defense counsel is not excluded from the proce16 Kibardin, I.P. On Certain Aspects of Defense Counsel’s Opposition During Interrogation. In: Bulletin of Udmurt University, Issue No. 2-2/2014, pp. 226–228. 17 Donskoy, D.D. The Function of Criminal Prosecution at the Pre-Trial Stage. Abstract of the PhD dissertation in Law. Rostov-on-Don, 2005, p. 8. 18 Osoianu, Tudor, et al. Tactics of Criminal Investigation Actions. Chișinău: 2020, pp. 175–176. LEGEA ŞI VIAŢA Publicaţie ştiinţifico-practică25 aprilie-iunie 2025 LAW AND LIFE Scientific-practical publication April-June 2025 dure; rather, they remain present and maintain full auditory access to the hearing proceedings. Consequently, their procedural rights remain intact. The actual purpose of this measure is to ensure a fair, objective, and interference-free investigative environment, thereby safeguarding both the interests of the parties and the legality of the criminal proceedings. Moreover, positioning the defense counsel outside the direct visual field of the suspect allows the criminal investigation officer to conduct the hearing strategy without the risk of disrupting its rhythm or content. By eliminating sources of visual influence, the officer can more accurately observe the suspect’s behavior, emotional and verbal reactions, and any contradictions or hesitations that may indicate undeclared or concealed aspects. In the context of money laundering offenses, such behavioral cues may prove decisive in reconstructing the modus operandi and determining each participant’s level of involvement. The proposed tactic contributes to the creation of a controlled environment, where the authenticity of statements is preserved and external influences are minimized. Although it may be argued that this measure could generate a certain degree of psychological discomfort for the person being heard, we consider this perception to be overstated. The tension typically associated with a hearing stems primarily from the nature of the criminal process itself, rather than from the physical positioning of the attorney. Furthermore, by eliminating visual contact with the defense counsel, the psychological pressure experienced by the suspect or accused may actually be reduced, thereby facilitating freer expression and diminishing both voluntary and involuntary influences on procedural behavior. According to criminal procedure law, “when discrepancies exist between the statements of persons questioned in the same case, a confrontation shall be conducted between those persons, including with those whose statements are unfavorable to the suspect or the accused, if necessary, in order to establish the truth and eliminate discrepancies.”19 From a forensic-tactical perspective, confrontation is recognized as a special method of interviewing, applicable exclusively during the subsequent phase of criminal investigation. It is ordered in situations where essential contradictions arise between the statements of individuals already questioned, regardless of their procedural status—suspect, witness, injured party, or other participant. The purpose of the confrontation is not only to confirm the existence of these inconsistencies but also to identify their causes, whether they stem from differences in perception, memory errors, an intent to conceal the truth, or even an attempt to mislead the investigative authorities. In criminal cases concerning money laundering, confrontation appears as a subsidiary procedural action, applied selectively and only in well-justified situations. Although this type of offense typically relies on documentary, financial-accounting evidence and technical expert reports, the existence of contradictory positions between participants necessitates the application of confrontation to clarify contested aspects and verify the veracity of statements. Judicial practice statistics confirm the limited but essential use of confrontation in such cases. Thus, from the total number of analyzed cases, confrontation was applied in only 22.5%. This low frequency reflects the specific nature of the offense but does not diminish the importance of confrontation in cases where the factual version of the parties 19 Article 113 paragraph (1) of the Criminal Procedure Code of the Republic of Moldova, adopted on March 14, 2003. In: Official Gazette No. 248–251, Article 699. LEGEA ŞI VIAŢA Publicaţie ştiinţifico-practică 26 aprilie-iunie 2025 LAW AND LIFE Scientific-practical publication April-June 2025 proved to be inconsistent. In such situations, confrontation played a probative consolidation role by encouraging direct and unmediated expression between the parties. For instance, in cases where witnesses indicated the existence of meetings, transactions, or suspicious transfers, which the defendant denied, confrontation enabled the weighing of positions and the verification of their consistency in light of previous statements. From a tactical standpoint, confrontation has produced the following effects in the analyzed cases, as shown in Diagram no. 3. Diagram No. 3. Effects of Confrontation: Courts of law have assessed this procedural measure as particularly effective in cases where discrepancies concerned: a) the defendant’s connection to certain economic entities involved in the legalization of funds; b) his or her presence at the signing of financial transaction contracts; c) the actual handling of illicitly obtained sums of money. In certain instances, the confrontation was even requested by defense attorneys, particularly to challenge the testimony of cooperating or protected witnesses, highlighting the bilateral nature of the measure—applicable in the interest of both the prosecution and the defense. Furthermore, in none of the analyzed cases was the confrontation rejected by the court as irrelevant or unnecessary. On the contrary, courts emphasized its evidentiary value when corroborated with other means of proof, underlining its subsidiary but decisive role in clarifying contentious aspects. Among the most frequent categories of participants in confrontations in money laundering cases (as illustrated in Diagram No. 4) are: a) Witness and suspect/accused – when the discrepancies relate to facts directly perceived by the witness, sometimes even in the presence of the accused; b) Two suspects/accused persons – when diverging versions emerge regarding how the act was committed, each person’s role, and the involvement of other participants; c) Two witnesses – who, despite having attended the same events, provide differing interpretations of what occurred. LEGEA ŞI VIAŢA Publicaţie ştiinţifico-practică27 aprilie-iunie 2025 LAW AND LIFE Scientific-practical publication April-June 2025 Diagram No. 4. Frequency of Categories of Participants in Confrontations: 0,00% 20,00% 40,00% 60,00% Witness and suspect/accused Two suspects/accused persons Two witnesses 0,00%-20,00% 20,00%-40,00% 40,00%-60,00% Therefore, confrontation, although applied less frequently than other procedural actions, retains its relevance in complex cases, especially those involving organized economic and financial crime, where the establishment of the truth often depends on the direct comparison of conflicting positions and the real-time evaluation of the participants’ behavioral reactions. For the proper conduct of confrontation, specific tactical procedures from interviewing practices apply. One important condition is that confrontation should take place shortly after the discrepancies between previous statements have been identified. This is necessary to prevent the individuals from meeting and discussing their earlier statements, potentially aligning them under the influence of interested parties. The criminal procedure law does not impose a mandatory rule dictating the strict order in which each individual must speak during a confrontation. In most cases, priority should be given to the person who, in the justified opinion of the criminal investigation officer20, provides truthful information. However, when planning a confrontation involving, on one side, a person whose statements are considered false, and on the other side, a public institution employee (or, in some cases, an employee of a commercial or other organization) who, due to their professional and psychological qualities and level of competence, is capable of exposing the opponent in a consistent and convincing manner, a reverse order from the traditional one should be adopted. That is, the person whose declarations are questionable should speak first, followed by the one who is expected to refute them. This tactic is appropriate because it prevents a situation where the person providing dubious statements, upon hearing well-argued and truthful assertions, withdraws and refuses to continue providing testimony. Another tactical recommendation regarding the conduct of confrontation is the active use of documents when formulating detailed, control, or verification questions. After both individuals have given their statements, the criminal investigation officer or the par20 Osoianu, Tudor, et al. Tactics of Criminal Investigation Actions. Chișinău, 2020, p. 204. LEGEA ŞI VIAŢA Publicaţie ştiinţifico-practică 28 aprilie-iunie 2025 LAW AND LIFE Scientific-practical publication April-June 2025 ties, under the officer’s supervision, have the right to ask questions21. Unfortunately, practice shows that investigators often underuse this opportunity, posing a minimal number of questions, which are frequently of a formal nature. CONCLUSIONS The interview remains one of the most valuable procedural actions in the investigation of money laundering offenses, offering the possibility to reconstruct criminal relationships, subjective intent, and the sequence of concealed operations—even in cases dominated by documentary evidence. The diversity of individuals interviewed necessitates a differentiated tactical approach, tailored to their procedural status, declarative behavior, and informational potential. The efficiency of an interview is not determined by the number of statements obtained, but rather by their coherence, relevance, and ability to corroborate and complete other forms of evidence within a logical and persuasive probative structure. Although used less frequently, the confrontation plays a decisive role in clarifying contradictions, especially in situations where witnesses and suspects present divergent factual accounts regarding the mechanism of fund legalization. The role of the defense attorney during the interview must be managed with balance—respecting the right to defense while preventing indirect influence on the procedural behavior of the suspect through positioning or non-verbal communication. The use of modern criminalistic techniques—such as “psychological waiting,” progressive handling of evidence, or the induction of informational tension—significantly contributes to obtaining relevant and truthful statements, without violating procedural rights. To fully leverage the evidentiary potential of interviews in money laundering cases, rigorous thematic planning is required, along with continuous tactical adaptation according to the evolution of the case and an integrative approach based on the logic of modern criminal investigation. 21 Vasiliev, A., Vinberg, A., et al. Criminalistics. Bucharest: Editura Ştiinţifică, 1961, p. 345. Cazan, Elena; Matei, Daniela; Gavriș, Radu. 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