LONDON (TrustLaw) - Here is our selection of this week’s anti-corruption stories from TrustLaw and other media:
Global
Websites shine light on petty bribery worldwide
The New York Times, U.S
Websites which encourage users to report when and where they have been asked to pay a bribe are spreading around the globe.
Africa
$70 million in Congo mining revenue untraceable, investigators say
Voice of America, U.S.
Anti-corruption investigators in the Democratic Republic of Congo say they cannot trace more than $70 million that mining companies claim to have paid to the government.
The push for mining to be an open book in South Africa
Business Day, South Africa
South Africa should join the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), a lawyer from a prominent South African law firm said.
Zimbabwean ministers face axe over corruption
The Zimbabwe Mail, Zimbabwe
Any minister from Zimbabwe Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s MDC party implicated in corrupt activities, whether at local or national government level, would be axed Tsvangirai’s spokesman said.
Nigeria’s anti-graft agencies to co-operate
AllAfrica (Daily Trust), Nigeria
Nigeria’s two anti-graft agencies, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corruption Practices and other related Offenses Commission (ICPC), are to embark on greater cooperation in fighting corruption in Nigeria the Chairman of the ICPC told a meeting of anti-graft officials.
South Asia & Asia-Pacific
Indonesian graft suspect wants trial delayed, more protection after knife attack
The Jakarta Globe, Indonesia
A man accused of corruption in West Java, Indonesia was attacked with a knife inside the courtroom. He has asked for a delay of his trial and reinforced security.
Former chief of India’s Congress party has property raided by police
The Times of India, India
The special Investigating Team (SIT) of India’s Mumbai police carried out raids on the properties of former Congress party chief Kripa Shankar Singh in Mumbai following the Bombay high court's order to probe into a disproportionate asset case against him.
Senior Australian central bankers face fresh scrutiny over bribe scandal
The Sydney Morning Herald, Australia
Evidence of possible illegality by senior officials at the Reserve Bank of Australia and business figures in connection with Australia's banknote bribery scandal has been referred by federal police to the corporate watchdog.
India’s defence ministry blacklists six companies in bribery scandal
The Times of India, India
India’s defence ministry has blacklisted six companies including Singapore Technologies, Israeli Military Industry and Germany's Rheinmetall Air Defence for 10 years for their alleged role in an armaments factory scam.
Australian defence firm faces bribe probe
The Sydney Morning Herald, Australia
Australia’s biggest military contractor, Tenix Defence, is under federal police investigation for allegedly bribing officials and politicians across Asia to win massive contracts.
Europe
Greece 'ready to settle with Siemens over bribery'
France24 (AFP), France
Greece and German electronics giant Siemens are close to finalising a 170-million-euro ($227million) deal to end a decade-old bribery scandal, according to local media reports.
UK lawmakers mount campaign to ban Russian visas over lawyer’s death
The Daily Telegraph, UK
UK lawmakers will pile pressure on the Government to ban a number of senior Russian officials from entering the UK by demanding action against those allegedly linked to the death of an anti-corruption lawyer working for a British hedge fund in Moscow.
North America
Q+A-Former FCPA chief at SEC on future of U.S. anti-corruption investigations
TrustLaw, UK
TrustLaw spoke to Cheryl Scarboro, formerly chief of the SEC’s Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) Unit, about the future of the FCPA – the U.S.’s much debated anti-corruption law, and the pros and cons of the Dodd-Frank whistleblower provision.
Puerto Rico senator, businessman sentenced for bribery
The Wall Street Journal (Corruption Currents), U.S.
A Puerto Rican senator and a businessman were each sentenced to four years in prison for their roles in a bribery scheme. Former Sen. Hector Martinez Maldonado was ordered to pay a $17,500 fine. Juan Bravo Fernandez, the former head of Ranger American, a large Puerto Rican private security firm, was ordered to pay a $175,000 fine.
Latin America
Former Cabinet ministers face bribery charges in Colombia over re-election law
The Washington Post (AP), U.S.
Colombia’s chief prosecutor’s office says it will seek bribery charges against two people who served in the Cabinet of former President Alvaro Uribe for alleged machinations that ensured Uribe could run for re-election.
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