Transparency International - Daily Corruption News (30 Dec 2014)

Today's top story Russia: Aleksei Navalny, critic of Putin, is given suspended sentence in fraud case New York Times A Moscow court on Tuesday convicted the anticorruption crusader and political opposition leader Aleksei A. Navalny of criminal fraud charges and handed down a three-and-half-year suspended sentence. The Moscow police braced for a confrontation with thousands of people planning to protest the verdict outside the Kremlin.

More news Global: Beijing looks at U.S. deal to recover dirty assets: China Daily Reuters Brazil: Petrobras finds itself in deep water Financial Times Egypt: Egypt probes corruption in state bidding process Ahram Online Thailand: Bangkok rocked by police football corruption charges SBC Turkey: Turkey's top judicial body suspends graft probe prosecutors: media Reuters UK: Thatcher was warned U.K.’s ‘Big Bang’ plan might increase fraud Bloomberg

Blogs and opinion Global: Next year, get tough on corruption Forbes Argentina: Cubrir la retirada (Protecting the way out) La Nación Israel: Yisrael Beiteinu corruption scandal shows lobbying must become more transparent Haaretz

News from Transparency International

Press release: Transparency International condemns speedy sentencing of civil society activists in Russia
Web Feature: Transparency International: 2014 in pictures

The Ethical Alliance Daily (30 Dec 2014)

United States: St. Helena Hospital whistleblower collects $450,000

United States: Huntsville police officer indicted over bribery scheme to ‘fix’ cocaine trafficking charge

Russia: Opposition activist Navalny to be sentenced on December 30 in Yves Rocher case

South Korea: Links between Korean Air, ministry under scrutiny

Brazil: Petrobras deadline prompts some bondholders to push for default

India: Graft unlimited: Freezing of Maharashtra irrigation projects causes no tremors

Egypt: Court Postpones Verdict in Graft Case Against Mubarak-Era Officials

Israel: Israel corruption scandal widens as former PM aide arrested

China: Brother-in-law of Ling Jihua under investigation

Tanzania: Official Suspended Over Ongoing Graft Scandal

The Ethical Alliance Daily (24 Dec 2014)

United States: Israel’s Bank Leumi to Pay $400 Million to Settle Tax-Evasion Allegations in U.S.

United States: Inquiry Into Foreign Bribes at Biomet Hangs Over $13 Billion Merger

United States: With Alstom, three French companies are now in the FCPA top ten

United States: Rep. Michael Grimm Pleads Guilty To Federal Tax Evasion Charge

Italy: Renzi ‘convinced’ Milan Expo will be graft-free success

Thailand: Two arrested over Bt1.6-bn KMITL embezzlement

Turkey: Former Gulenist claims donations used for bribing bureaucrats

Malaysia: Corruption in Malaysia: Perception vs Reality

Bangladesh: ACC starts quizzing 3 Sonali Bank officials

Zimbabwe: ZIMRA official in court for demanding bribe from a doctor

WSJ - Corruption Currents: Arms Trade Treaty Comes into Effect (24 Dec 2014)

WSJ - Corruption Currents: Arms Trade Treaty Comes into Effect (24 Dec 2014). By Samuel Rubenfeld. http://blogs.wsj.com/riskandcompliance/2014/12/24/corruption-currents-arms-trade-treaty-comes-into-effect/

Transparency International - Daily Corruption News (23 Dec 2014)

Today's top story Global: Alstom to pay record $772m fine for bribery Financial Times French industrial group Alstom SA pleaded guilty on Monday to paying more than $75m in bribes to government officials around the world and agreed to a $772.3m fine, the largest penalty by the US Department of Justice for foreign bribery.

More news Brazil: Oil scandal in Brazil just keeps growing; optimists see chance for change The Washington Post (TI mention) China: Former executives of China's Shenhua energy under investigation Reuters Greece: Greek bribery claims dismissed ahead of key vote The Wall Street Journal Hong Kong: Hong Kong property tycoon and former official jailed for corruption Agence France Presse Tanzania: Tanzania's Kikwete sacks Tibaijuka over payment BBC US: US treasury seeks to guard against illegal sports wagers Reuters

Blogs and opinion Global: Foreign bribery cases that can drag on and on The New York Times Spain: For many Spaniards, Princess Cristina's trial date is welcome news Christian Science Monitor

News from Transparency International

Online Documentary: African voices against corruption
Web Feature: Transparency International: 2014 in pictures

The Ethical Alliance Daily (23 Dec 2014)

The Ethical Alliance Daily (23 Dec 2014)

United States: Alstom to Plead Guilty and Pay U.S. a $772 Million Fine in a Bribery Scheme

United Kingdom: SFO gets first conviction of company for foreign official bribes

United States: Former MoneyGram compliance chief penalized $1 million for ‘willful inaction’

Spain: Princess Cristina to stand trial on tax fraud charges

Ukraine: Kuzmin accuses Kuchma of paying a $1 billion bribe to be cleared of Gongadze murder charges

Hong Kong: Hong Kong property tycoon jailed for five years in graft case

Tanzania: President sacks minister amid energy graft scandal

China: Ling Jihua: China investigates top aide to former president

Bangladesh: Seven more bankers face ACC interrogation

Mexico: Multinational firm in Mexico tax-avoidance probe to pay up

WSJ - Corruption Currents: Grimm Day for NY Congressman (23 Dec 2014)

WSJ - Corruption Currents: Grimm Day for NY Congressman (23 Dec 2014). By Ben DiPietro. http://blogs.wsj.com/riskandcompliance/2014/12/23/corruption-currents-grimm-day-for-ny-congressman/

Transparency International - Daily Corruption News (22 Dec 2014)

Today's top story China: China to “regulate” foreign NGOs with new law Reuters China aims to "regulate" foreign non-governmental organisations (NGOs) under a law being discussed this week, state media said on Monday, wherein NGOs would need to be registered with and approved by the state in order to operate in the country.

More news Global: Cracking the shells The Economist (TI mention) Brazil: Brazil’s elite feel the heat as Petrobras corruption net widens The Irish Times (TI mention) Haiti: Haiti’s first family under corruption probe cloud Voice of America Italy: Renzi’s reform dream comes up against a corruption nightmare The Financial Times (TI mention) Luxembourg: Gramegna calls LuxLeaks ‘game changer’ for tax-deal probe Bloomberg Romania: New Romanian President Klaus Iohannis vows to tackle corruption Euronews Spain: Princess Cristina to be tried for fraud Associated Press UK: UK unit of Alstom faces fresh corruption charges The Financial Times

Blogs and opinion Peru: “En ningún país civilizado habría un fiscal de la Nación investigado” (“In no civilised country would there be a prosecutor under investigation”) La Republica (TI mention) Russia: Putin’s problem: corruption, not just sanctions Forbes

News from Transparency International

Press release: Transparency International calls for nominations for its One World Media Corruption Reporting Award
On the blog: Lives on the line as Serbia battles healthcare corruption

The Ethical Alliance Daily (22 Dec 2014)

United States: Alstom to absorb U.S. bribery fine despite GE sale

United States: Former Homestead mayor convicted of public corruption gets prison time — goes free on bond

United States: Two Pennsylvania Democrats indicted for alleged bribe-for-influence scheme

Hong Kong: Former top Hong Kong official found guilty in Sun Hung Kai corruption case

Greece: Lawmaker alleges bribe offer to vote with government

Uganda: 20 firms probed over money laundering

China: China investigates executive of Nissan joint venture

Nigeria: ‘Nigeria’s Corruption Now Institutionalised into the Political System’

Brazil: More Indictments Expected in Petrobras Corruption Scandal

Romania: Iohannis promises corruption crackdown as new Romanian president

WSJ - Corruption Currents: North Korea Threatens U.S. Over Sony (22 Dec 2014)

WSJ -Corruption Currents: North Korea Threatens U.S. Over Sony (22 Dec 2014). By Samuel Rubenfeld. http://blogs.wsj.com/riskandcompliance/2014/12/22/corruption-currents-north-korea-threatens-u-s-over-sony-hacking-allegations/

Transparency International - Daily Corruption News (19 Dec 2014)

Today's top story

China: Depleted oil field is window into China's corruption crackdown
Reuters
A subsidiary of China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), PetroChina Daqing Oilfield, paid $85 million to pump from three blocks in the ageing Limau field under a 2013 contract with Indonesia’s state-owned oil company, Pertamina, according to senior Chinese oil industry officials with knowledge of the transaction.

More news

Australia: Secrecy surrounds corruption case against Adelaide drug cops
9news
Brazil: Rousseff says Brazil must stamp out corruption, not companies
Bloomberg
Canada: Culture of corruption in Quebec needs to be changed
CBC
China: Hong Kong tycoon Thomas Kwok found guilty of corruption
BBC
Italy: Italy's anti-corruption czar to join Rome bid team
New Zealand Herald
Switzerland: FIFA to release World Cup corruption report
Al Jazeera

Blogs and opinion

Global: Official aid in line for a makeover as donors announce 'historic agreement'
The Guardian

News from Transparency International

Online documentary: African Voices against Corruption
Web feature: EU takes action against secret companies

WSJ - Corruption Currents: FIFA President Declares World Cup Bidding Crisis Over (19 Dec 2014)

WSJ - Corruption Currents: FIFA President Declares World Cup Bidding Crisis Over (19 Dec 2014). By Samuel Rubenfeld. http://blogs.wsj.com/riskandcompliance/2014/12/19/corruption-currents-fifa-president-declares-world-cup-bidding-crisis-over/

Transparency International - Daily Corruption News (18 Dec 2014)

Today's top story

UK: Britain targets financial fraud with anti-corruption police unit
Reuters

Britain is to set up a specialist police unit focused on corruption and bribery, aiming to bolster its defences against white-collar crime in the financial sector as part of a wider plan to stamp out fraudulent business practices.

More news

Global: EU shines light on dirty money with central registers
Reuters (TI mention)

Global: Avon products settles bribery charges for $135M
Associated Press

Afghanistan: Afghanistan’s new millionaires
Bloomberg Businessweek

Bhutan: Bhutan’s king issues corruption warning
Agence France-Presse

China: Xi’s visit to Macau deals cold deck to VIP gamblers
Reuters

India: Reliance payments to Indian politicians raise transparency issues
The Financial Times

Iraq: Iraq PM drops lawsuits against journalists
Associated Press

Blogs and opinion

Global: World Cup corruption: could FIFA be set to perform report U-turn?
BBC

News from Transparency International

Online documentary: African Voices against Corruption
Web feature: EU takes action against secret companies

The Ethical Alliance Daily (18 Dec 2014)

United States: Avon China unit pleads guilty to bribery in $135 million accord

Germany: Airbus : Unit Suspected of Bribing China Aerospace

United Kingdom: Scottish oil firm pays out after dirty money probe in to its corruption in Kazakhstan

Brazil: Corruption probe reveals possible links to Costa Rica, Guatemala

United States: Two NY broker-dealer execs plead guilty in Venezuelan bribery case

United States: Former Chief of Baltimore City Division of Transit and Marine Services Pleads Guilty to Bribery Scheme

United Kingdom: Sun journalists in corruption trial ‘acted in public interest’

China: Senior ICBC Banker Zhang Hongli Wrapped Up in Two Lawsuits

Italy: Italy police break up international money laundering ring in Rome

Vietnam: Vietnam censures former chief inspector; seizes house, land

Transparency International - Daily Corruption News (16 Dec 2014)

Today's top story

Global: Illicit financial flows growing faster than global economy, reveals new report
The Guardian

$991.2bn was funnelled out of developing and emerging economies through crime, corruption and tax evasion in 2012 alone, according to the latest report by the Washington-based group, Global Financial Integrity (GFI), published on Monday.

More news

Global: Tax disputes flare as Africa fights ‘secret’ oil deals
The Wall Street Journal

Global: Empresa brasileña habría donado un millón de dólares a campaña de Sinibaldi
(Brazilian company donated a million dollars to Sinibaldi campaign)
Prensa Libre

Global: Soccer – Garcia appeal not admissible: FIFA
Reuters

Haiti: Haiti awaits new government after prime minister resigns
Reuters

Mexico: El jefe de la policía del DF tiene a 10 familiares contratados en puestos directivos (DF police chief hired 10 relatives to managerial positions)
Animal Politico

Nigeria: Nigeria oil workers strike over inefficiencies, corruption
Voice of America

Philippines: Prison sex scandal shocks Philippines
Sky News Australia

Blogs and opinion

China: In Beijing temples, clubs for the wealthy
The New York Times

Ukraine: Ukraine needs tough, not unconditional, love
The Financial Times

News from Transparency International

Web documentary: African voices against corruption
On the blog: Corruption’s effects on education in Pakistan

The Ethical Alliance Daily (16 Dec 2014)

United States: Bruker Corporation Neither Admits Nor Denies, to Pay $2.4 Million to Settle FCPA Charges

Canada: ‘Victim’ SNC-Lavalin collects $13 million in recovered funds

United States: Customs officer charged with bribery and drug conspiracy

United States: SEC, Big 4 Firms Make Progress in China Audit Dispute

Japan: Ex-diplomat gets 12-year prison term for embezzling, arson at embassy in Africa

Brazil: Prosecutors Charge Another Former Petrobras Executive

Russia: Communists want parliament to investigate ex-Defense Minister Serdyukov

Israel: Ramat Gan mayor, city officials arrested in major corruption, election fraud scandal

World: Countries lost $1 trillion to corruption

Macau: Chan Chak Mo: Anti‑bribery law in Macau basically completed

WSJ - Corruption Currents: FIFA Rejects Garcia’s Appeal (16 Dec 2014)

WSJ - Corruption Currents: FIFA Rejects Garcia’s Appeal (16 Dec 2014). By Samuel Rubenfeld. http://blogs.wsj.com/riskandcompliance/2014/12/16/corruption-currents-fifa-rejects-garcias-appeal/

Transparency International - Daily Corruption News (15 Dec 2014)

Today's top story

China: A corruption case laden with jade
The New York Times
Ni Fake, a former vice governor of Anhui Province in eastern China, enjoyed being a government official. But what he apparently loved most was jade.

More news

Hungary: Hungarians protest government budget, corruption
Associated Press
Iraq: Corruption, ‘ghost contractors’, sink Baghdad after rains
Al-Monitor
Israel: Ramat Gan mayor, city officials arrested in major corruption, election fraud scandal
The Jerusalem Post
Nigeria: Nigeria’s economic pain may not decide election
Reuters
Turkey: In push against Muslim cleric, Turkey detains police officers and journalists
The New York Times

Blogs and opinion

Global: Setting up a bogus shell corporation is really easy
Vice
Global: The dozy watchdogs
The Economist
Mexico: Tackling corruption in Mexico means reforming campaign finance
The Financial Times

News from Transparency International

Press release: Transparency International condemns arrest of anti-corruption investigative journalist in Azerbaijan
Web feature: Anti-money laundering: Tougher oversight required

The Ethical Alliance Daily (15 Dec 2014)

United States: Redflex “bagman” pleads guilty to red light camera contract bribe

United States: Mexican Politician and Gubernatorial Hopeful Accused of Bribery by Us

United States: Inside Sony’s Mysterious ‘Red Pockets’: Hackers Blow Open China Bribery Probe

United States: Anti-Bribery Petition Drive Launched

Germany: Siemens settles last bribery suit against former executives

Switzerland: Switzerland targets corruption in sports with ‘FIFA bill’

Malta: Whistleblowers who flagged Farrugia’s bribery to be charged

Guinea: Billionaire diamond miner sues Theresa May and the SFO over bribery claims

Mexico: Police overhaul may not curtail violence, corruption

South Korea: Prosecutors question President Park’s brother

Low political will and poor coordination hold back anti-corruption efforts in Asia and the Pacific, says UNDP Report

09 Dec 2014

Corruption remains a major hurdle to human development in Asia and the Pacific, where strong national policies to tackle corruption are often faltering due to a lack of political will and poor coordination, says a new report published by the United Nations Development Programme today.

The report, released to coincide with the International Anti-Corruption Day, is titled Anti-Corruption Strategies: Understanding What Works, What Doesn’t, and Why?  

Anti-corruption strategies "often lack teeth when they are not fully integrated into national development plans,"the report notes as one of its critical findings.

Anchoring anti-corruption with national development plans is a pre-condition to encourage a whole-of-government approach for human development, it says.

Evidence shows that progress is slow in the region, with corruption remaining a major hurdle to development. Public sector corruption is perceived as significant in 64 percent of the countries in the region (Transparency International). And it is estimated that about 40 percent of investment in electricity, water and sanitation is lost to corruption.

According to the report, anti-corruption strategies have sometimes been mistaken as a generic roadmap that can be developed by a few bright minds in government to set overly ambitious goals.

The UNDP experience shows that it is essential to involve a wide range of actors to build ownership and ensure the effectiveness of strategies adopted.  This can reduce the vulnerability of reform efforts to changes in political leadership by empowering the public to monitor these commitments, the report observes.

This echoes the global call for “Breaking the corruption chain”, which is the main message of the International Anti-Corruption Day, globally observed every year on 9 December.

"On this year's observance of the International Anti-Corruption Day, we call again on people everywhere to get involved in 'Breaking the Corruption Chain'. Next year the world will agree a new post-2015 sustainable development agenda. Our aim is to empower individuals and catalyse governments, the private sector and civil society to help lift millions out of poverty, protect the planet and achieve shared prosperity and dignity for all. Eliminating corruption and its harmful impacts will be crucial to our future well-being," says UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon on 9 December 2014.

Another common pitfall of anti-corruption strategies is the lack of attention to implementation, monitoring and evaluation, says the report.

Government and development partners can be occasionally more concerned with drafting an anti-corruption strategy to fulfill international obligations under the UN Convention against corruption than with ensuring its implementation.

The report documents lessons learned from 14 countries, featuring Afghanistan, Australia, Bhutan, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Thailand and Viet Nam. It is a joint initiative of the UNDP Bangkok Regional Hub and the Global Anti-Corruption Initiative.

The report draws out five valuable lessons that can guide a country's anti-corruption efforts:

1. Political changes are an opportunity and a challenge for the sustainability of anti-corruption strategies.
2. Measuring corruption is important, but only if governments make effective use of the results.
3. Regular data collection is an integral component of an anti-corruption strategy.
4. An anti-corruption agency is only as effective as the level of political support it enjoys from different branches of government.
5. Anti-corruption agencies in the region remain weak in monitoring and evaluating their strategies.

The report is available for download on UNDP Asia-Pacific website at http://on.undp.org/FvYyl.

Read The United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s message on International Anti-Corruption Day on 9 December 2014.  

For more information on the International Anti-Corruption Day, please visit www.anticorruptionday.org.

Transparency International - Daily Corruption News (3 Dec 2014)

Today's top story

Global: Despite high-profile crackdown, China falls in global corruption ranks
The Globe and Mail (TI mention)
Despite China’s very public prosecution of corrupt officials, a new report from Transparency International reveals that China is in fact losing ground in the fight against graft.

More news

Global: Airbus raided in probe over Romania, Saudi Arabia bribery
Bloomberg
Brazil: Brazil graft is ‘widespread’, ex-Petrobras director says
BBC
China: China's anti-graft watchdog face criticism after naming female officials for practicing adultery
Times of India
Egypt: Egypt to criminalise ‘insulting revolutions’
Associated Press
Greece: Corruption still alive and well in post-bailout Greece
The Guardian
Portugal: Portugal top court rejects motion to free ex-PM in graft case
Reuters
Thailand: Police hunt one of Thailand’s richest men in police graft scandal
Agence France-Presse

Blogs and opinion

Global: 5 takeaways from the OECD report on foreign bribery
Wall Street Journal

News from Transparency International

Press release: Corruption Perceptions Index 2014: Clean growth at risk
On the blog: Asia Pacific: Growing economies, growing corruption
On the blog: Europe, Central Asia, and the state of corruption in 2014: the gold standard?

Wall Street Journal - Corruption Currents: Conflict Minerals Rule Leaves Congolese Miners Jobless (2 Dec 2014)

Wall Street Journal - Corruption Currents: Conflict Minerals Rule Leaves Congolese Miners Jobless (2 Dec 2014). By Samuel Rubenfeld. http://blogs.wsj.com/riskandcompliance/2014/12/02/corruption-currents-conflict-minerals-rule-leaves-congolese-miners-jobless/