Our selection of this week's anti-corruption stories from TrustLaw and other media
LONDON (TrustLaw) - Here is our selection of recent anti-corruption stories from TrustLaw and other media.
Global
Pro bono lawyers help graft watchdogs keep states honest
TrustLaw, UK
Lawyers from nine law firms are working free of charge to help anti-graft groups make sure countries are living up to their obligations under a global treaty to stamp out corruption.
Asia’s soccer chief slams critics over 'false' FIFA bribery allegations
The Guardian, UK
The president of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has accused his critics of mounting a "politically motivated" campaign against him as he risks becoming the most senior football official ever to be banned from the game at a hearing of the sport’s governing body, FIFA.
Africa
INTERVIEW-Mobile application combats Cameroon’s corruption
TrustLaw, Senegal
A mobile telephone application to help reduce corruption in Cameroon is currently being tested in the West-Central African nation. Users install the application, known as NoBackchich (no more bribes), on android phones then click to find procedures for getting services from government and some private services.
Anti-corruption drive in Zimbabwe fails
Zimbabwe Independent, Zimbabwe
Government efforts to combat graft in Zimbabwe have failed to yield results because the investigators are often implicated in many of the cases, according to the Anti-Corruption Trust of Southern Africa.
South Asia & Asia-Pacific
New graft trial for former Indonesian taxman
TrustLaw, Thailand
A new Indonesian corruption trial involving graft convict and former taxman Gayus Tambuan is set to begin at the Jakarta Corruption Court.
Indonesia to give whistleblowers more protection- report
TrustLaw, Thailand
Indonesia’s top law enforcement officials said they would give better protection to whistleblowers who helped uncover corruption and other crimes such as extremist violence, money laundering and illegal logging.
India seeks global help to curb laundering - report
TrustLaw, India
India wants other nations to help it combat both money laundering and extremist violence financed by illegally amassed wealth, using mutual legal help in areas such as extraditing individuals found guilty of such crimes, the Times of India quoted the country's finance minister as saying.
India, US must talk human rights on Clinton visit - HRW
TrustLaw, India
India and the United States should make human rights a central focus of talks as U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton begins a two-day visit to Asia’s emerging global power, said Human Rights Watch (HRW), in a trip billed mainly at boosting political and economic ties and bolstering regional security.
Afghanistan's anti-corruption efforts thwarted at every turn
The Guardian, UK
Corruption has permeated every layer of Afghan society in the past 10 years, an Asia Foundation report said. In 2010, 55 percent of Afghan respondents said corruption was a major problem in their daily lives, up from 42 percent in 2006.
PNG top cop says not to bribe police
ABC.com, Australia
Papua New Guinea's top cop has taken the unusual step of asking people not to offer bribes to his notoriously corrupt officers. In a statement, Commissioner Anthony Wagambie said people should let themselves be charged instead of contributing to the bribery culture.
Transparent government, via webcams in India
New York Times, U.S.
Little Brother is watching you. That is the premise for the webcam that a top government official in India has installed in his office, as an anticorruption experiment. Goings-on in his chamber are viewable to the public, 24/7.
Ex-Alcatel official in Malaysia charged with graft
Forbes.com, U.S.
A former Malaysian employee of French telecommunications giant Alcatel was charged with paying a bribe to get confidential information that helped Alcatel win a contract from state-owned Telekom Malaysia.
Europe
Q+A - SFO overcoming hit of high-profile losses - anti-graft chief
TrustLaw, UK
The Serious Fraud Office (SFO), though weakened by the recent loss of many of its top prosecutors, is achieving more convictions than ever before, Richard Alderman, director of the UK’s anti-corruption agency has told TrustLaw.
UK lawmakers quiz BAE over Tanzania payment delay
TrustLaw, UK
British lawmakers questioned executives of defence firm BAE Systems over the delay of a payment to Tanzania, agreed in 2010 as part of a settlement with the UK’s fraud watchdog, the Serious Fraud Office (SFO).
Overseas 'facilitation payments' are unacceptable, says UK’s Charity Commission
Third Sector Online, UK
New guidance from the UK’s Charity Commission says facilitation payments given by charities operating overseas to local individuals who enable aid work to take place are "an unacceptable use of charity funds".
Formula One Chief Executive Bernie Ecclestone formally accused of paying bribe
The Telegraph, UK
Formula One chief executive Bernie Ecclestone was formally accused for the first time of paying $44 million (27.3 million pounds) in bribes to a German banker relating a 2006 sale of the sport.
Philips CEO: Dutch HQ had no involvement in alleged bribes
The Wall Street Journal (Corruption Currents), U.S.
An internal investigation has cleared Royal Philips Electronics NV’s headquarters in the Netherlands of involvement in an alleged bribery scheme in Poland, the company’s chief executive said.
German corruption recedes as economy holds fast
Deutsche Welle, Germany
A new study shows improvement in the fight against corruption in Germany.
Publishers hit for £11m by SFO over African bribes
Evening Standard, UK
Macmillan, one of Britain's oldest publishing houses, paid more than 11 million pounds in a deal with the Serious Fraud Office after it admitted trying to use bribery to win a major educational book contract in Southern Sudan.
North America
Transparency International-USA announces new CEO
TrustLaw, UK
Claudia Dumas, previously head of World Justice Project and a former senior adviser to the U.S. development agency, will be the next president and chief executive (CEO) of Transparency International-USA (TI-USA), the anti-corruption organisation announced in a news release.
How much has the Chamber spent on lobbying for FCPA reform?
Wall Street Journal (Corruption Currents), U.S.
According to lobbying records maintained by the U.S. House of Representatives, the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform paid outside lobbyists $390,000 in the first and second quarters of this year in its push to amend the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. But that figure includes charges for other Chamber causes such as tort reform; lobbying records are itemised by issue, not fees.
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