Here is our selection of recent anti-corruption stories from TrustLaw and other media
LONDON (TrustLaw) - Here is our selection of recent anti-corruption stories from TrustLaw and other media.
Africa
Kenyan football clubs given vote to tackle corruption
BBC, UK
A new voting system will be used to elect the head of Kenyan football, in a bid to stop corruption. For the first time every affiliated club in the country, nearly 3,000 of them, will have a vote. Previously a small number of delegates were appointed regionally.
Nigerian election marathon to focus on fighting corruption
Deutsche Welle, Germany
Nigeria embarks on an electoral marathon between April 2-16 with more than 70 million voters taking part in ballots to choose federal and state parliaments, state governors and, most importantly, its president. Corruption has been a major problem in Nigeria for decades and it is again a buzzword in these elections, with all of the country's political rivals using the fight against it as a pillar of their campaigns.
South Asia & Asia-Pacific
Kyrgyz sceptical of new government anti-graft website
TrustLaw, Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan’s government wants people to fight rampant corruption by filing complaints directly through a new website, but despite its high-profile launch few have heard of the online campaign and even fewer think it will work.
Indonesian presidential decree will tackle graft
The Jakarta Globe, Indonesia
The Indonesian government has signalled it may be finally getting around to cracking down on corruption, despite its modest goals and its poor record of honouring previous commitments. A government spokesman said President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was planning to issue a presidential decree next month on corruption prevention and eradication.
Vietnamese PM urges handling of corruption cases be expedited
VOV News, Vietnam
Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung asked Vietnam’s law enforcement agencies to speed up the handling of corruption cases. He said that although corruption cases are time-consuming, delays spark doubts about the government’s commitment to stamping out corruption.
Filipino whistle-blower made top anti-graft bureaucrat
Gulf Today, UAE
A spokesman from the Filipino presidential palace announced that Heidi Mendoza is to become commissioner of the Commission on Audit for a fixed term of seven years. Mendoza recently became a household name after she blew the whistle on massive corruption in the Filipino armed forces.
Gold bars and bags of cash seized from Malaysia’s crooked customs officers
The Star Online, Malaysia
Gold bars and bags of cash containing up to 600,000 ringgit ($200,000) have been discovered in the homes of several customs officers during raids by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission. Other ill-gotten gains included luxury watches and expensive cars.
Australian family scarred by botched corruption investigation
ABC News, Australia
The wife of a former Australian senior public servant says her family's life will never be the same after a flawed Corruption and Crime Commission investigation involving her husband.
Taiwan’s anti-corruption agency to be launched by August
Radio Taiwan International, Taiwan
A new Taiwanese anti-corruption agency is expected to begin operation in July or August. The agency will be tasked with cracking down and preventing corruption in government agencies and will also be responsible for formulating, coordinating, and promoting the country's anti-corruption policies and regulations.
Former vice Chinese governor receives life imprisonment for bribery
People’s Daily Online, China
A court in southwest China's Chongqing municipality sentenced Li Tangtang, former vice chairman of Ningxia Hui autonomous region, to life imprisonment for taking bribes. The court also ordered the confiscation of the former official's personal assets and stripped him of his political rights for life. Li was found guilty of accepting 7.68 million yuan ($1.17million) in bribes from auto companies, real estate developers and individuals from 1998 to 2009.
North America
U.S. anti-graft law: The original and still the best?
TrustLaw, UK
The U.S. anti-corruption law, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) is a law that is seemingly criticised and praised in equal measure. It is arguably the broadest, the most enforced and the most feared of all anti-corruption laws, the ‘gold standard’ on which other countries model their own legislation. It is also roundly criticised for a lack of transparency in its enforcement.
Ex-Texas judge pleads to taking $250K in bribes
Associated Press, U.S.
A U.S. judge who ran a busy South Texas courtroom has pleaded guilty to charges of taking more than $250,000 in bribes from attorneys in exchange for favours from the bench, including dismissing charges and easing probation terms.
Europe
UK aid ministry urged to clamp down on corruption
TrustLaw, UK
Britain must step up efforts to minimise the risks of corruption in its foreign aid programmes as it boosts spending in the world's poorest and most unstable states, the National Audit Office (NAO) said.
Bribery trial begins in Germany for former Siemens executive
Wall Street Journal (Corruption Currents), U.S.
After four years, someone from Siemens AG allegedly involved in the company’s bribery scandal saw the inside of a courtroom. German prosecutors accused Thomas Ganswindt, a former member of the executive board who was on track to become chief executive, of tax evasion and failing to perform supervisory duties to prevent a huge corruption scandal at the company.
Ireland hopes fifth bailout will end the years of corruption and greed
Guardian, UK
For more than two years, Ireland has been paralysed by a financial crisis, and this week submitted itself to a fifth bank bailout since 2008, a move that will lead to the nationalisation of all six Irish banks before a restructuring that will see four of them mothballed forever. Corrupt politicians, greedy builders, lax financial regulation, incompetent banking management and hubris at all levels in Irish society during the Celtic tiger years have all been blamed for this disaster.
Malta’s corruption commission to look into former PM’s claims
Times of Malta, Malta
Malta’s anti-graft commission will be looking into claims of corruption made by former Prime Minister Alfred Sant and if any evidence is found it will hold an inquiry, the commission’s chairman said. During a debate in parliament, Sant criticised the way corruption was fought in Malta and mentioned four alleged cases of corruption.
Russian anti-corruption bill clears first hurdle
Rossiyskaya Gazeta, Russia
A new anti-corruption bill sponsored by Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev has passed a first reading in the State Duma, the lower house of parliament. The bill forbids prison sentences for many types of economic crimes and introduces fines as a punishment for bribe-taking by officials. The law would also bring Russia closer in line with international standards for fighting corruption.
Middle East
Morocco adopts anti-corruption plan: official
AFP, France
A committee of ministers presided over by Morocco's King Mohammed VI has adopted a draft anti-corruption law, following street protests calling for political reform. The law will seek to ensure the protection of witnesses, victims and whistle-blowers of corruption by public officials.
Men sentence to three years in Dubai naturalisation bribery scheme
The National, UAE
An Emirati and an Egyptian have been sentenced to three years in prison for offering and receiving about 80,000 dirham ($22,000) in bribes in return for falsifying information on electronic applications at the Dubai Naturalisation and Residency Department. The court also fined the men Dh80,000 each and ordered the deportation of the Egyptian after he had served his prison term.
Latin America and Caribbean
US expels Ecuadorean ambassador in tit-for-tat move
Reuters, U.S.
The United States has ordered Ecuador's ambassador to leave and scrapped a round of talks to retaliate for the expulsion of its envoy in Quito over U.S. diplomatic cables alleging police corruption.
Wikileaks: Culture of corruption at Panama’s Tocumen International airport
Newsroom Panama, Panama
The much touted modernization of Panama’s Tocumen airport led to a culture of corruption and an explosive growth of crime according to U.S. diplomatic cables released by the website Wikileaks and published by the Spanish newspaper El Pais.
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