A selection of anti-graft stories from TrustLaw and other media
LONDON (TrustLaw) - Here is our selection of recent anti-corruption stories from TrustLaw and other media.
Global
Rethinking corruption (blog)
TrustLaw, UK
Developed countries wanting developing countries to tackle corruption problems should pay more attention to Western companies’ own duties to be transparent in graft-troubled nations, a corruption campaigner at the Australia-based advocacy group, The Global Poverty Project, says in a blog post.
Arms trade corrupt, says think tank Sipri
BBC, UK
Corruption in the global arms industry is systemic and widespread, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)
More asset searches lead to 'front men'
The Wall Street Journal, U.S.
A recent spate of legal cases offers a preview of how anti-corruption officials could pursue ill-gotten assets of toppled leaders in places like Egypt and Tunisia. Increasingly, prosecutors are going after not only corrupt politicians, but the lawyers and other professionals who may have helped them move cash.
Africa
Kenya’s chief public prosecutor accused of bribery
TrustLaw, Kenya
In live television broadcasts, the man nominated to become Kenya’s new director of public prosecutions, Keriako Tobiko, has been accused of demanding a 5 million shilling (more than $57,000) bribe and manipulating corruption cases.
Cameroon’s women mistrust electoral process
TrustLaw, Senegal
Most women and disabled people in Cameroon believe the central African country’s electoral system is corrupt as the country prepares to choose its new president, according to a survey quoted by the Kenya-based Africa Review.
Kenyan police: Campaign to screen officers
BBC, UK
Kenya has started screening more than 1,600 senior police officers in an effort to weed out corruption. Anti-corruption Commission Director Patrick Lumumba told the BBC a committee would check whether the officers had faced corruption allegations.
Malawians lose confidence in anti-corruption strategy – Survey
Nyasa Times, Malawi
Malawians continue to lose confidence in President Bingu wa Mutharika’s anti-corruption strategy because “corruption is a natural occurrence and part of our daily lives, so denouncing it is unnecessary.” according to the 2010 Governance and Corruption Survey final report.
Nigeria’s anti-graft agency recovers US$6.5 billion
APA/Afrique Avenir, Nigeria
Nigeria's anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said that it has recovered more than N975 billion (about US$6.5 billion) between June 2008 and March 2011.
Botswana’s 'Mr Clean' in court for corruption
Mail & Guardian, South Africa
Botswana's minister of finance and development planning, Kenneth Matambo, has been charged with corruption, the second member of Botswana President Ian Khama's cabinet to face the charge in less than a year. Matambo, who has always presented himself as "Mr Clean," is expected to plead to the corruption charge on July 13.
South Asia & Asia-Pacific
Former Philippines military officer names more in graft case
TrustLaw, Thailand
A former military budget officer, whose whistle-blowing on corruption in the Armed Forces of the Philippines captivated the country earlier this year, named more officials in an amendment to a complaint he had earlier filed, the Philippine Star reported.
Nepal police charged with embezzling funds for UN vehicles
TrustLaw, Nepal
Dozens of senior police officials in Nepal have been charged with embezzling millions of dollars of public funds during the procurement of military hardware for the country’s U.N. peacekeepers stationed in Sudan, anti-graft officials have said.
Missing Indonesian politician summoned in new graft case - report
TrustLaw, Thailand
Indonesia’s Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has issued a summon for missing politician Muhammad Nazaruddin, over a case involving the Ministry of Education, the Jakarta Post said.
Trial looms for Australian accused over aid project bribes
Sydney Morning Herald, Australia
U.S. prosecutors have insisted an Australian man accused of taking bribes in Afghanistan must stand trial in the United States despite calls by his defence team for the charges to be dropped. Queensland construction manager Neil Campbell has been held in a Washington jail since February after being extradited from India.
Suspicious funds in Southeast Asia Games probed
Jakarta Post, Indonesia
Indonesia’s Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center has said it was notified of “suspicious transactions” involving the bank accounts of suspects in a graft-tainted construction deal for the Southeast Asian Games.
Samsung Electronics chairman urges anti-corruption campaign
The China Post, China
Corruption has spread throughout South Korea's largest business group Samsung, the head of its flagship firm said, vowing to lead a managerial house-clean. The warning from Lee Kun-Hee, chairman of Samsung Electronics, came a day after an inspection into a group subsidiary found unspecified irregularities which led to the resignation of its CEO.
North America
Drug cartels step up corruption of U.S. border agents
The Washington Times, U.S.
Corruption on the U.S. side of the Mexican border rose sharply in recent years as drug cartels targeted border agents as part of illicit drug and human trafficking, senior Obama administration officials have told a Senate hearing.
Europe
Expose corrupt officials on Twitter, says UK anti-graft agency
Financial Times, UK (subscription required)
Companies that encounter corrupt overseas officials should use the microblogging site Twitter to name them, the head of Britain’s white-collar crime agency has said.
Corruption watchdog criticises Serbia over hiring practices
Balkan Insight, Serbia
Transparency Serbia, part of the global corruption watchdog, has filed a lawsuit against the Serbian Government as it probes longstanding claims that a party membership card remains a must for employment in the public sector.
Finland’s former foreign minister charged with aggravated bribery
Helsingin Sanomat, Finland
Finnish prosecutors have charged Member of Parliament and former Minister for Foreign Affairs Ilkka Kanerva with aggravated bribe-taking and are calling for a minimum of two years in prison.
German gas group to pay fine to settle graft allegations
Wall Street Journal (Corruption Currents), U.S.
German industrial gases group Linde AG has agreed to pay the state of Bavaria 35 million euros ($50.6 million) to resolve corruption allegations, a spokesman has said. The spokesman told Dow Jones that no unlawful behaviour at Linde was established. The payment, he said, was compensation for economic advantages gained through the unlawful conduct of outside parties.
Middle East
Egypt jails ex-minister Youssef Boutros Ghali
BBC, UK
Egypt's former Finance Minister Youssef Boutros Ghali has been given a 30-year jail sentence over corruption charges, court sources said.
Yemenis see widespread corruption in government
Gallup, UAE
A Gallup survey of Yemenis polled in February and early March shows that seven in 10 believe that government corruption is widespread.
Latin America
Cuban court convicts 15 in airline corruption case
CNN, U.S
A Cuban court has convicted 14 government officials and businessmen and a Chilean entrepreneur for corruption and bribery involving the state-owned airline and a tourism agency.
Colombia’s president promises to end health sector corruption
Colombia Reports, Colombia
Colombia President Juan Manuel Santos has promised to put an end to a long-running corruption scandal in Colombia’s health insurance industry. The scandal is believed to have involved a number of government officials and cost the state up to $2.5 billion.
Venezuela to hold public consultation on anti-corruption law
Insidecostarica.com, Costa Rica
Public consultation on the reform of the Law Against Corruption will begin in Venezuela next week, the chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Finance Control said.
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