In the Excitement of the New, Let’s Not Neglect the Tried and True

"In my two posts last week (here and here), I attempted to go through all of the 41 country statements submitted by the participants in the London Anticorruption Summit held earlier this month, to see what those statements had to say about four specific issue areas highlighted by the Summit’s joint Communique: (1) accessibility (and possibly transparency) of beneficial ownership information for companies and other legal entities, (2) public procurement transparency, (3) independence, effectiveness, and transparency of national audit institutions, and (4) whistleblower protection (and encouragement)."

Matthew Stephenson, editor-in-chief, Global Anticorruption Blog. https://globalanticorruptionblog.com/2016/05/24/in-the-excitement-of-the-new-lets-not-neglect-the-tried-and-true/

Daily Corruption News from Transparency International - 24 May 2016

24 May 2016 Today's top story Global: Google offices in Paris raided by tax authorities The Guardian French investigators have raided Google’s Paris headquarters, saying the company is now under investigation for aggravated financial fraud and organised money laundering.

More news Global: Swiss bank to be shut over Malaysia scandal Associated Press Brazil: Brazilian minister steps down over remarks on corruption probe Time Palestine: In tough times, most Palestinians view government as corrupt Associated Press (TI mention) South Africa: South Africa's Zuma appeals against corruption charges ruling Reuters Sweden: Sweden's foreign minister cleared in corruption inquiry Agence France-Press US: Appeals court reverses $1.2 billion Countrywide verdict, saying it wasn't fraud Forbes

Blogs and opinion Global: Why advancing the rule of law is good for business... and the world Huffington Post (TI mention)

News from Transparency International

On the blog: FIFA: another own goal?
On the blog: Caution and optimism in Zambia as forest scheme scales up

Ethical Alliance Daily News - 24 May 2016

Brazil: Brazil’s New Government Faces First Crisis Amid Corruption Probe
May 24, 2016 08:00 pm

Brazil’s Acting President Michel Temer is in damage-control mode as his administration faces its first political crisis with a corruption scandal that helped bring down his predecessor encroaching on his inner circle. Top Temer ally and newly-appointed Budget Minister Romero […]
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United States: Onetime Soccer Kingpin Jack Warner Faces $50 Million Fraud Suit
May 24, 2016 07:30 pm

Jack Warner, once one of the most powerful men in global soccer, is being sued for more than $50 million by the sport’s regional body in North and Central America. It is the latest legal action against the man who […]
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South Africa: 783 corruption charges against President Jacob Zuma not reinstated
May 24, 2016 07:00 pm

South Africa’s National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has decided, on 23 May, to not reinstate nearly 800 corruption charges against President Jacob Zuma, dropped in 2009. The ruling came a few weeks after the High Court in Pretoria said dropping the […]
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United States: Former Google exec pleads guilty here in international bribery case
May 24, 2016 06:30 pm

A former Google executive admitted today in federal court in Pittsburgh that he received some $3.2 million in kickbacks from companies in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands who were negotiating contracts for data centers with Google and then hid […]
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Guinea: Guinea says to work with Global Witness over corruption allegations
May 24, 2016 06:00 pm

Guinea will work with Global Witness to gather evidence for a judicial investigation into allegations by the watchdog group that Sable Mining Africa Ltd provided money used for bribes to further its business interests, a government spokesman said. Global Witness […]
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Egypt: Egypt prosecution summons ex-top auditor for questioning over corruption report
May 24, 2016 05:30 pm

Egypt’s State Security prosecution summoned the country’s former top auditor Hisham Geneina for questioning on Tuesday over his report claiming that theft by public officials has cost the treasury LE600 billion since 2012. In January, the country’s top prosecutor issued […]
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WSJ - Corruption Currents: U.S. Drops Charge to Ease El Chapo’s Extradition - 23 May 2016

WSJ - Corruption Currents: U.S. Drops Charge to Ease El Chapo’s Extradition - 23 May 2016. By Samuel Rubenfeld. http://blogs.wsj.com/riskandcompliance/2016/05/23/corruption-currents-u-s-drops-charge-to-ease-el-chapos-extradition/

WSJ - Corruption Currents: FIFA Lurches to New Crisis - 16 March 2016

By Samuel Rubenfeld. http://blogs.wsj.com/riskandcompliance/2016/05/16/corruption-currents-fifa-lurches-to-new-crisis/

Daily Corruption News - Transparency International - 17 May 2016

17 May 2016 Today's top story Tanzania: Tanzania purges 10,000 'ghost workers' in anti-corruption drive BBC Tanzania has removed more than 10,000 "ghost workers" from its public sector payroll in a crackdown on corruption. Payments to the non-existent employees had been costing the government more than $2m (£1.4m) a month, according to the prime minister's office.

More news Brazil: Brazilian police accuse steelmaker Gerdau CEO of corruption Reuters Cameroon: Corruption probe nabs 14 more Cameroon officials Voice of America India: How a non-profit in India is fighting corruption with fake money PRI Iraq: Iraq’s government says Unaoil allegations have ‘foundations’ Huffington Post Montenegro: Montenegro’s ex-president Marovic faces jail for corruption Balkan Insight

Blogs and opinion Global: Business and anti-corruption: Time to speak up Forbes Global: Commentary: We’re all paying the costs of corruption Reuters Russia: Why Putin tolerates corruption New York Times

News from Transparency International

On the blog: U.S. response to the Panama Papers: A step in the right direction but more action is needed
Press release: Transparency International welcomes Anti-Corruption Summit pledges and calls for immediate action

Ethical Alliance Daily News - 17 May 2016

Brazil: Another Brazil Scandal Makes Steelmaker World’s Worst Performer
May 17, 2016 08:00 pm

Gerdau SA fell the most among peers after police indicted more than a dozen people, including its chief executive officer, for their alleged involvement in a tax evasion scandal linked to Brazil’s No. 2 steelmaker. Shares in Gerdau fell 7.1 […]
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United States: Former head of Virginia Regional Transit pleads guilty in bribery scheme
May 17, 2016 07:30 pm

The former head of Virginia Regional Transit pleaded guilty on Monday in federal court in Alexandria to his role in a bribery scheme that cost the federal government nearly $400,000. Mark W. McGregor was chief executive officer of VRT, a […]
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Tanzania: Tanzania purges 10,000 ‘ghost workers’ in anti-corruption drive
May 17, 2016 07:00 pm

Tanzania has removed more than 10,000 “ghost workers” from its public sector payroll in a crackdown on corruption. Payments to the non-existent employees had been costing the government more than $2m (£1.4m) a month, according to the prime minister’s office. […]
Read More 

Japan: Japan pledges to cooperate with French probe into Olympics corruption
May 17, 2016 06:30 pm

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Monday vowed cooperation with French investigators probing payments allegedly made to help Tokyo secure the 2020 Olympics. “I have instructed the education and sports minister to fully cooperate in the investigation,” Abe told lawmakers […]
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Ukraine: Transparency International: More Ukrainians ready to report corruption to police
May 17, 2016 06:00 pm

The number of Ukrainians who are ready to report the cases of corruption to the law enforcement agencies has increased by 32 percent. That’s according to Transparency International (TI) Ukraine civil society organisation, who has announced the preliminary results of […]
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Australia: Australia is emerging as a global cybercrime and money laundering hot spot
May 17, 2016 05:30 pm

Corporate Australia reports seeing more local economic crime than the rest of the world. More than half (52%) of the companies surveyed by PwC for a major study experienced economic crime in the last two years compared to the global […]
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Daily Corruption News from Transparency International - 13 May 2016

13 May 2016 There will be no Daily Corruption News on Monday, 16 May 2016. The next edition will be published on 17 May 2016. Today's top story UK: Super-rich may quit London homes under new anti-corruption rules The Guardian Super-rich international investors in London property are likely to sell off some of their mansions and penthouses after the introduction of anti-corruption rules cracking down on offshore secrecy, a leading estate agent has said.

More news Global: Por qué América Latina puede ser un ejemplo anticorrupción para el mundo (Why Latin America could be an anti-corruption example for the world) BBC Mundo (TI mention) Global: Dick Pound promises IOC will not hinder Tokyo 2020 corruption inquiry The Guardian Bulgaria: Bulgaria's anti-graft draft law fails to make it past committee Novinite China: Former top Chinese official indicted on corruption charges Los Angeles Times Honduras: Transparencia Internacional pide protección a depuradores policiales (Transparency International calls for protection of those who work to clean-up the police force) La Prensa (TI mention) Uganda: Walkout over court comments mars Uganda president's inauguration Reuters

Blogs and opinion Brazil: The fate of Brazil’s democracy depends on a man you’ve never heard of Foreign Policy Kyrgyzstan: Foreign agent bill nixed, NGOs rejoice Open Society Institute

News from Transparency International

On the blog: U.S. response to the Panama Papers: A step in the right direction but more action is needed
Feature: The Anti-Corruption Summit: Now the hard work begins

WSJ - Corruption Currents: U.S. Ramps Up Petrobras Probe (13 May 2016)

WSJ - Corruption Currents: U.S. Ramps Up Petrobras Probe (13 May 2016). By Samuel Rubenfeld. http://blogs.wsj.com/riskandcompliance/2016/05/13/corruption-currents-u-s-ramps-up-petrobras-probe/

Execution of global anti-corruption plan a tough task

The UK might lose massive capital; experts warn billionaires could take capital out of London if offshore anonymity not ensured; no progress possible unless US tackles its own tax havens; nothing wrong in wealthy people’s wish for private life.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/print/120328-Execution-of-global-anti-corruption-plan-a-tough-task

Ethical Alliance Daily News - 16 May 2016

World: FIFA Compliance Chief Quits, Saying Corruption Fight Threatened
May 16, 2016 08:00 pm

FIFA’s head of audit and compliance, Domenico Scala, quit Saturday to protest changes at the top of global soccer’s governing body that he said will imperil efforts to eliminate corruption. Scala, who was with the organization for four years, said […]
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Mexico: Wal-Mart wins dismissal of Mexico bribery lawsuit
May 16, 2016 07:30 pm

A Delaware judge on Friday dismissed a lawsuit by Wal-Mart Stores Inc. shareholders who accused the board of the world’s largest retailer of trying to cover up bribes paid by company executives in Mexico. Chancellor Andre Bouchard of the Court […]
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World: Anti corruption summit turns the spotlight on rich countries banks and real estate brokers
May 16, 2016 07:00 pm

The London summit shifted the focus on global corruption, turning the spotlight of blame away from African generals, oligarchs and corrupt dictators and toward the rich countries, whose banks and real estate brokers have been the benefactors of the stolen […]
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Middle East: 23% of Middle East execs say bribery is common
May 16, 2016 06:30 pm

Almost a quarter of respondents to EY’s latest Global Fraud Survey report that it is common practice to win contracts through bribery. EY’s survey polled 175 executives in the Middle East, from Jordan, Oman, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey. […]
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India: Anti-Corruption Body Plans ‘Integrity Index’ For Government Departments
May 16, 2016 06:00 pm

In a first, the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) has decided to develop an ‘integrity index’ to help government departments assess where they stand on anti-corruption measures. The integrity index for public sector organisations will be based on bench marking of […]
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Ukraine: Ukraine and Poland join forces to fight corruption
May 16, 2016 05:30 pm

Ukrainian and Polish anti-corruption bureaus have signed a memorandum on close cooperation, the Ukrainian Anti-Corruption Bureau press service reported. The two agencies have agreed to exchange information and experience in preventing and fighting corruption. The full original article can be found […]
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Ethical Alliance Daily News - 12 May 2016

World: Global corruption risks tipping more countries into crisis, IMF warns

Published on May 12, 2016 09:30 pm

   

Brazil: Brazil’s Dilma Rousseff to face impeachment trial

Published on May 12, 2016 09:00 pm

   

Australia: Australian PM Turnbull named in Panama Papers, denies wrongdoing

Published on May 12, 2016 08:30 pm

   

Singapore: 86% of S’pore execs have identified corruption in their businesses: Report

Published on May 12, 2016 08:00 pm

   

China: China calls for multilateral anti-graft mechanism

Published on May 12, 2016 07:30 pm

   

Japan: Tokyo Olympics: €1.3m payment to secret account raises questions over 2020 Games

Published on May 12, 2016 07:00 pm

   

United States: U.S. probes reports of fraud in obtaining aid for Syria

Published on May 12, 2016 06:30 pm

   

Ukraine: IMF to Help Ukraine Improve Enforcement of Anti-Money Laundering Laws

Published on May 12, 2016 06:00 pm

   

China: China’s UnionPay combats money laundering as yuan goes global

Published on May 12, 2016 05:30 pm

   

United Kingdom: Former Innovia manager convicted of corruption

Published on May 12, 2016 05:00 pm