Selection of recent anti-corruption stories from TrustLaw and other media
London (TrustLaw) – Here is our selection of anti-corruption stories from TrustLaw and other media from the last week.
Global
The dilemma of bribes: to pay or not to pay
BBC, UK
The former chairman of oil giant Shell and global mining company Anglo-American, Sir Mark Moody-Stuart, discusses bribery.
Africa
DRC law to curb police corruption – report
TrustLaw, UK
The Democratic Republic of Congo has passed a law that seeks to turn the country’s underfunded and corrupt police force into a united, professional, apolitical and autonomous body. Congo has appealed for funding to train the entire force, but donors have been slow to come forward because of past mismanagement of police training funds.
Ex-minister seeks deal with anti-graft unit
Daily Nation, Kenya
A former lands minister in the Kenyan government and his wife are holding negotiations with Kenya’s Anti-Corruption Commission and the attorney-general to settle a corruption case against them out of court. Although the couple have already been charged and the hearing dates set, Noah Katana Ngala and his wife said they anticipated clearing the matter before it comes to trial.
Zambian president ducks lunch with convicted party big wig
Africa Review, Kenya
Zambia’s President Rupiah Banda has refused to have lunch with a businessman convicted of corruption who won an auction bid to dine with the president. Anuj Kumar Rathi won the bid at a fundraiser held in aid of the governing Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) party. Banda said the MMD party will not accept money perceived to be from corrupt sources. Rathi has appealed to the High Court against his conviction.
Middle East
Lieberman corruption case being held up due to prosecutors' strike
Haaretz.com, Israel
Israel’s State Prosecutor's Office has called off discussions on whether to charge Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman for corruption, because of a prosecutors' strike. It is not clear when the discussions will take place. Lieberman is suspected of laundering millions of shekels through front companies set up for him by his lawyer, Yoav Many. He is also accused of fraud and breach of trust.
South Asia & Asia-Pacific
Bribe-giving in Mongolia lowest in five years - survey
TrustLaw, Thailand
Mongolians say they are giving fewer bribes than ever before in the past five years, while the number of cases of officials directly asking for a kickback is on the rise, according to a survey released earlier this month by the Asia Foundation.
India's top judge wants corruption cases "fast-tracked" - report
TrustLaw, New Delhi
India’s chief justice has asked all major courts in the country to “fast-track” the backlog of thousands of corruption cases pending before the judiciary, according to a report by the Hindustan Times.
Bangladesh police chief questions Transparency survey - newspaper
TrustLaw, New Delhi
Bangladesh’s police chief has questioned the findings of Transparency International’s recent survey on corruption, saying that he did not believe it reflected public opinion. Earlier this month the anti-graft organisation published its annual Global Corruption Barometer, a survey of public attitudes towards and experience of corruption, which said that Bangladesh’s police, civil servants, political parties and the judiciary were considered to be the most corrupt in the country.
China upgrades anti-corruption regulation
Xinhua, China
The Communist Part of China (CPC) has released an amended anti-corruption regulation that imposes stringent punishments for corrupt CPC officials, even if they have left their posts or retired.
KPK detains Bekasi mayor, alleged corruption
The Jakarta Post, Indonesia
Indonesia’s Corruption Eradication Commission has detained Mochtar Muhammad, mayor of the West Javan city of Bekasi, for alleged misuse of the Bekasi budget.
Wu must serve 17-and-a-half years
Taipei Times, Taiwan
The Taiwan High Court has ruled that the wife of former president Chen Shui-bian will have to serve 17-and-a-half years in prison in connection with separate corruption and bribery cases. The court also said the former first lady will be fined a total of NT$154 million (US$5.05 million).
North America
City inspector gets 3 years for demanding, taking bribes
Chicago Sun-Times, U.S
A Chicago city building inspector has been sentenced to three years in federal prison for demanding and accepting bribes from developers to approve inspections at construction sites. Jose Hernandez’s sentencing comes after he was convicted in September on bribery charges for soliciting or obtaining cash bribes totalling about $30,000 since at least 2005.
Europe
CSSD's Hasek wants PM to resign over alleged corruption
Prague Daily Monitor, Czech Republic
A Czech opposition politician has called on Prime Minister Petr Necas to resign over alleged corruption at the State Environment Fund (SFZP). Michal Hasek said the prime minister should leave unless he says what steps he took about suspicions of corruption at the SFZP. Earlier this month, Environment Minister Pavel Drobil resigned following allegations that he tried to cover up corruption in his department.
Metro boss faces sack over corruption claims and safety lapses
The Moscow News, Russia
The head of Moscow’s metro, Dmitry Gayev, could be fired over claims that he was profiting from property deals on the network which transports millions of Muscovites every day. The Prosecutor General’s office has published a statement on its website urging Mayor Sergei Sobyanin to dismiss the official.
Latin America and Caribbean
Drug agency to get U.S. tracking system to stamp out corruption
Colombia Report, Colombia
Colombia's National Narcotics Office (DNE) is to begin using a U.S. system to digitally monitor assets seized from narco-traffickers, the DNE’s head has said. The Colombian government took control of the DNE in November due to corruption within the organisation, which handles goods seized from traffickers. All current employees and many former employees have codes that give them access to the seized assets, much of which is thought to have been stolen.
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