Our weekly selection of anti-corruption news from TrustLaw and other media
London (TrustLaw) – Here is our selection of anti-corruption stories from TrustLaw and other media in the past week.
AMERICAS
United States
Senate hearing to put spotlight on FCPA enforcement
Corruption Currents, Wall Street Journal
Enforcement of the FCPA will come under scrutiny later this month when the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee convenes for a hearing entitled “Examining enforcement of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act”. Enforcement of anti-bribery laws is at an all-time high – criminal penalties in the past 12 months have exceeded $1 billion, Corruption Currents reports. The Securities and Exchange Commission, which shares enforcement of the FCPA with the Justice Department, received $404 million in disgorgement and civil penalties in the first 9 months of this year, the blog said. But the hearing also comes amid calls for amendments to the law and criticisms that it has hurt U.S. business.
Colombia
Corruption scandals dominate Colombian headlines
TrustLaw
These days, Colombia’s media seem to talk of nothing but corruption, with four major graft scandals competing for attention, TrustLaw correspondent Anastasia Moloney writes. In one of the most dramatic cases police raided the National Narcotics Directorate, the government agency that manages assets seized from drug traffickers, on suspicion of widespread corruption. Accusations of fraud in tendering public contracts at the office of Bogotá’s mayor are also all across the news.
EUROPE
Russia
Hermitage saga shows Russia can’t shake corruption
Reuters/Breaking Views
It's been a year since Sergei Magnitsky, a Russian lawyer for London-based hedge fund Hermitage Capital, died in custody after being denied medical treatment. The case has become an international cause celebre -- and a key test of whether President Dmitry Medvedev is serious about modernising Russia and eradicating corruption. But the clear answer appears to be that either he isn't, or he's impotent, argues Jason Bush, a Reuters Breaking Views columnist.
United Kingdom
FIFA has acted over corruption
Daily Telegraph
If FIFA’s ethics committee is determined to clean up its act it must end the process of bidding for two tournaments at once, a practice that encourages deals, argues Daily Telegraph columnist Henry Winter after news that football’s governing body suspended two members of its executive committee over cash-for-vote allegations. Everybody does deals: some do it for personal financial gain, as FIFA confirmed, or for the gain of their national associations; bidders offering a friendly game here, a coaching course there. FIFA just needs to minimise the opportunities for collusion, firstly by ending the two-tournament vote and secondly by providing more transparency on Dec 2 -- when its president will announce the host nations of the 2018 and 2022 finals -- namely in revealing who votes for whom.
Greece
Corruption in Greece prolongs recession
Global Post
Greece sparked a European debt crisis a year ago when it revealed its budget deficit was more than double forecasts. But it is not just those unsustainable levels of government debt - corruptin takes its toll on the economy too. Greece was recently rated the most corrupt country in Europe, according to Transparency International's 2010 Corruption Perception Index and graft dimishes the southern European country's GDP by about 8 percent, according to Transparency International.
AFRICA
World Bank gets tough on “unethical practices”
Business Day, South Africa
Multinational companies involved in bribery in Africa will be blacklisted from future projects administered by the World Bank, according to a senior official at the bank. Obiageli Ezekwesili , vice-president for the Africa region, said the bank would support only those companies that promoted "responsible business practices, sustainable development, sound corporate governance principles and transparency" on the continent.
Cameroon
What can be done to clean up one of the world’s corrupt countries?
TrustLaw
Our correspondent George Fominyen has been to Cameroon to find out what can be done to tackle corruption in the country. He spoke to Mathias Owona Nguini, a political analyst and lecturer at the University of Yaounde II, Bharat Joshi, the UK High Commssioner to Cameroon, Kah Walla, a civil society leader, and Simon Nkwenti, head of the Teachers’ Trade Union and member of Transparency International’s Cameroon branch.
South Africa
Bribery, fraud plague South African mining – minister
Reuters
South Africa's mining minster says bribery, deception and intimidation plague the mining sector, denting confidence in the economically vital industry. The ministry has imposed a six-month halt on new prospecting bids from the start of September as it overhauls mining laws, irons out irregularities in the way rights are awarded and audits existing exploration and drilling contracts. Mining Minister Susan Shabangu said that some rights holders, especially black economic empowerment (BEE) companies, have resisted inspections at their sites or have tried to influence officials during the audits.
ASIA
China
Corrupt ex-head of China nuclear firm gets life
Reuters
The disgraced head of China's main nuclear energy company has been jailed for life for accepting almost $1 million in bribes, part of a crackdown on corruption that has sent shudders through the power sector. A closed-door meeting of the Communist Party endorsed a 2009 decision to strip Kang Rixin, 57, former president of China National Nuclear Corp, of his party membership for "serious violations of the law and discipline breaches", Xinhua news agency said.
India
India PM rejects court corruption probe criticism
Reuters
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, weakened by a corruption scandal involving his sacked telecoms minister, has told the Supreme Court he has done nothing wrong and followed correct procedures. In a rare move, the Supreme Court reprimanded Singh for failing to probe ex-telecoms minister Andimuthu Raja over allegations he had sold licences too cheaply. The court demanded Singh himself explain what had happened, tarnishing his squeaky-clean image.
Giving in to the temptation of “giving”
TrustLaw
While graft in higher circles is reinforcing what many Indians already know about the role of corruption in politics, the type encountered more frequently by the middle classes is perhaps less widely debated, our correspondent Nita Bhalla says. It's a strange feeling when the penny finally drops and you realise someone is asking you for a bribe. It seems they know exactly when to strike.
Indonesia
Graft undermines conservation efforts
The Jakarta Post
Rampant corruption at the local level is undermining Indonesia’s pledge to conserve its forests as it prepares to get billions of dollars under a scheme to be discussed at the upcoming U.N. climate change conference in Cancun. Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) deputy chairman Mo-chammad Jasin told The Jakarta Post that graft pertaining to the issuance of logging permits remained rampant in Papua, Kalimantan and Sumatra, which are home to the nation’s largest forests. The KPK has focused its antigraft campaign on the forestry sector this year. Since its establishment in 2003, the antigraft body has prosecuted a governor, a regent and a forestry agency official for illicitly granting forest concessions to several companies.
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