标题：The Dual Criminality Principle in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations-Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty in Criminal Matters (ASEAN-MLAT): Prosecuting Transnational ‘Cyber-Human Trafficking’ in the Southeast Asian Region
期刊名称：Asia Pacific Journal of Multidisciplinary Research
印刷版ISSN：2350-7756
电子版ISSN：2350-8442
出版年度：2019
卷号：7
期号：2-PART2
页码：88-95
出版社：Lyceum of the Philippines University - Batangas
摘要：This paper examines the applicability of the ‘Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance in
Criminal Matters among like-minded ASEAN member countries’ (ASEAN-MLAT) in the prosecution of
human trafficking committed in the cyberspace. This multilateral treaty ensures cooperation among
Southeast Asian (SEA) states in the prosecution of crimes. ASEAN-MLAT, however, adheres to the
principle of dual criminality which means that a crime cannot be subject of cooperation if it is not
penalized under the jurisdictions of either the Requesting or the Requested Party. Although there are no
specific laws which penalize cyber-human trafficking among SEA states and there is still a need for future
development of a more cyber-responsive penal legislation on human trafficking, this crime when
committed in the cyberspace can still be accommodated under the national penal laws existing in the
ASEAN countries. A comparative reading of all penal laws among SEA states reveals that human
trafficking includes the recruitment of persons for the purpose consonant with trafficking. This means that
human trafficking as a crime can be committed in the cyberspace. Hence, despite the absence of a
particular penal provision on cyber-human trafficking, this crime can be a proper subject of mutual legal
assistance for investigation and prosecution among and between SEA states.
