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CORRUPTION NEWS ROUND-UP: Bribery Act delay worries fraud chief, Nigeria presidential contender gets tough, India PM in dark over anti-graft body candidate

by Luke Balleny | http://www.twitter.com/LBalleny | Thomson Reuters Foundation
Friday, 11 March 2011 19:07 GMT

Our global round-up of corruption stories in the news for the week ending March 11

LONDON (TrustLaw) - Here is our selection of recent anti-corruption stories from TrustLaw and other media.

Global

Q&A: Donors should adopt EITI principles too – World Bank

TrustLaw, France

At the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) Global Conference in Paris, TrustLaw spoke to Sri Mulyani Indrawati, managing director of the World Bank, about how the bank supports the EITI, why more developed countries haven’t joined up, and how the EITI can foster transparency beyond the extractive industries.

Africa

I will jail corrupt party leaders, says Nigerian presidential candidate

Next, Nigeria

Nigerian presidential candidate and former anti-graft chief, Nuhu Ribadu, said that he would not spare any corrupt leader in his party if elected president in next month's presidential election.

Malawi: Ex-President Muluzi's corruption trial opens

BBC, UK

The trial has begun in Malawi of former President Bakili Muluzi on charges of corruption. The High Court dismissed an application to halt the trial on the grounds of Mr Muluzi's ill health. The former president has been accused of misappropriating about $11m of funds from international donors. Muluzi denies the charges.

Netherlands withholds Ugandan aid over corruption

New Vision, Uganda

The Dutch government has withheld €3.2million ($4.4million) in aid to Ugandan due to the Ugandan government’s failure to punish officials who were implicated in corruption during the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting. Uganda hosted the meeting in November 2007.

Transparency will ensure Ugandans benefit from their oil

The Guardian, UK

Anti-corruption campaigners discuss how anticipated EU legislation - that mandates that extractive industries publish what they pay governments- will impact the oil industry in Uganda.

South Asia & Asia-Pacific

President of the Philippines says tackling corruption key to growth

BBC, UK

President Benigno Aquino of the Philippines said his administration will focus on tackling corruption and poverty, as well as trying to stop the country's most talented people seeking work abroad. In an interview with the BBC, the President said corruption cases were being filed on a weekly basis.

U.S expresses 'regret' over Indonesian President graft claims

The Australian, Australia

Indonesia has protested to the U.S over news reports, based on leaked U.S diplomatic cables by the website, WikiLeaks, accusing Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono of abuses of power and implicating him in corrupt behaviour. Called into Indonesia’s Foreign Ministry, US ambassador Scott Marciel expressed "our deepest regrets to President Yudhoyono and to the Indonesian people".

I was not aware of corruption case against anti-graft chief: India’s PM

The Times of India, India

India’s Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said that he was not aware of a charge sheet against PJ Thomas, his nominee for head of India’s anti-graft commission until the meeting of a selection committee on September 3 2010. Singh said that he gave his approval to Thomas’ nomination as he believed Thomas would have already obtained clearance given that he had earlier served in high profile government positions.

North America

New York State senator charged with corruption, bribery

WestLaw News and Insight, U.S

A New York State senator facing charges of corruption, bribery, money-laundering and influence-peddling has surrendered to federal authorities, the Manhattan U.S. Attorney's Office said. According to court documents, Senator Carl Kruger, a Democrat from Brooklyn, took at least $1 million in bribe money in a wide-ranging scheme that involved seven others.

U.S sheriff accused of accepting bribes

The Wall Street Journal, U.S

The former sheriff of Middlesex County, New Jersey took bribes from job applicants, state officials have alleged. Former Sheriff Joseph Spicuzzo is accused of charging at least three people up to $25,000 apiece between 2007 and 2008 for jobs or promotions.

Europe

Q&A: Ernst & Young anti-corruption expert on the UK Bribery Act

TrustLaw, UK

John Smart leads Ernst and Young’s Fraud Investigation and Dispute Services practice in London.  TrustLaw spoke to him about whistleblowing, the UK Bribery Act and whether companies who have complied with the U.S. anti-corruption law will also have complied with the UK law.

UK Serious Fraud Office boss worried by Bribery Act delays

The Telegraph, UK

Delays in introducing anti-bribery legislation has left the British Government open to charges that it is not committed to fighting corruption, Richard Alderman, director of the Serious Fraud Office, has told Kenneth Clarke, the UK’s Justice Secretary.

UK government’s US-style shakeup of police 'would breed corruption'

The Guardian, UK

Jessica De Grazia, New York's former chief assistant prosecutor, says elected police commissioners in England and Wales would breed corruption and undermine the professionalism of the force.

Italy’s PM 'to escape yet another corruption charge'

The Telegraph, UK

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is almost certain to escape yet another corruption charge as prosecutors fear a trial in which he is accused of bribing his British former tax adviser will come to nothing because of a legal technicality.

Middle East

Jordan’s king: Combating corruption a top priority

The Jordan Times, Jordan

King Abdullah of Jordan has said that combating corruption is a top priority to achieve comprehensive reform and sustainable development. During a meeting with the president and members of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), the king stressed that "there are no red lines hindering the conduct of the ACC in rooting out all forms of corruption and protecting the country from the phenomenon", a court statement said.

Corruption rife in labour offices – Saudi Labour Minister

Arab news.com, Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia’s Labour Minister Adel Fakieh has admitted that there is corruption in some of the labour offices in the Kingdom but that the imminent launch of e-services would be a major step in combating the problem.

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