This week's anti-corruption stories from TrustLaw and other media
LONDON (TrustLaw) - Here is our selection of this week’s anti-corruption stories from TrustLaw and other media:
Africa
I didn’t plead guilty to corruption charges, says former Nigerian governor
Vanguard, Nigeria
Former governor of Delta State, James Ibori, who is facing a 10-count charge of stealing, money laundering and corruption at a London court, has denied that he pleaded guilty to corruption charges.
Vast majority of Ghanaians unconcerned about reporting corrupt practices
GhanaWeb, Ghana
More than 87 percent of Ghanaians are disinterested in reporting corrupt practices because they’re uncertain that action will be taken against the offenders, according to an official at the anti-graft watchdog Ghana Integrity Initiative.
South Asia & Asia-Pacific
INTERVIEW-Reforming Myanmar should avoid “sweetheart deals” - U.N. official
TrustLaw, India
Myanmar is eager to make big changes to lift itself out of poverty, a senior U.N. official said, but the country should avoid repeating the mistakes of other developing nations with large mineral wealth and steer clear of “sweetheart deals”.
High-profile Indonesian graft suspect to face first trial this week
TrustLaw, Thailand
The wife of an Indonesian legislator and retired police general accused of bribing lawmakers will face her first trial at the Jakarta Corruption Court.
Indonesian judge gets four years and fine for graft - report
TrustLaw, Thailand
An Indonesian judge has been sentenced to four years in prison and fined 150 million rupiah ($16,510) after he was found guilty of receiving bribes in a bankruptcy case.
Australia central bank knew of bribes two years before police called
Brisbane Times, Australia
The governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia, Glenn Stevens, has admitted his deputy was told in writing of corruption inside the bank's operations in 2007, two years before the scandal became public and it called in the federal police.
Kyrgyz PM sacks airport customs, border and police officials
Radio Free Europe, Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan's Prime Minister Omurbek Babanov has decided to sack all customs officials, border guards and police at the country’s two international airports, in what's being described as a bid to curb corruption.
Indonesia, Hong Kong join forces to bust transnational crime
Jakarta Post, Indonesia
The Indonesian House of Representatives has ratified an agreement between Indonesia and Hong Kong that will assure mutual legal assistance in dealing with criminal cases, including transnational ones.
Europe
Tolerance of graft fuelling Greek crisis - report
TrustLaw, UK
Greek people live in a state of “corrupt legality” where the law often overlooks or even fosters corrupt practices, contributing to the current crisis, a report by international anti-graft watchdog Transparency International Greece said on Wednesday.
Transparency watchdog welcomes Irish whistleblower law
Irish Times, Republic of Ireland
The anti-corruption group Transparency International (TI) Ireland has welcomed the publication of the draft of new whistleblower legislation by Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Brendan Howlin. “There are some improvements to be made, but I think we’re on the right track,” said John Devitt of TI Ireland, which has been campaigning for legislation in this area for several years.
One in five Slovaks paid a bribe in past year, survey finds
The Slovak Spectator, Slovakia
Over the past year, one in five Slovaks paid a bribe, but only in ten percent of these cases was a bribe requested, according to the results of a survey conducted by Transparency International Slovensko (TIS).
North America
Canadian anti-graft squad descends on Montreal-area mayor’s home, office
National Post, Canada
An estimated 60 anti-corruption investigators have descended on the home and office of Gilles Pepin, mayor of St-Constant, a suburb of Montreal city in Canada’s Quebec province.
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