NewsBin - Global Anti-Corruption: February 2018

Saturday, February 17, 2018

Pacific Anti-Corruption Updates (17 Feb 2018): Fiji, PNG, Solomon Islands

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These updates are provided by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Regional Anti-Corruption Project for Southeast Asia, and the joint UNODC - United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Pacific Regional Anti-Corruption (UN-PRAC) Project, with support of the Australian Government.
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FIJI:
Commission Launches Anti-corruption Resource Manual With Teachers in North. The Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) launched the pilot phase of the National Anti-Corruption Curriculum in partnership with the Ministry of Education for Northern Division teachers.
http://fijisun.com.fj/2018/02/13/commission-launches-anti-corruption-resource-manual-with-teachers-in-north/
Investment Advisors Undergo Training on Anti-Corruption. Investment Fiji is working with the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) to ensure its investment, trade and export advisors are fully aware of the anti-corruption laws and evolving nature of corrupt practices.
http://fijisun.com.fj/2018/02/09/investment-advisors-undergo-training-on-anti-corruption/
Former CEO and a senior manager of Post Fiji Limited charged by FICAC. FICAC has charged the former CEO of Post Fiji Limited and a senior manager of the company with corruption-related offences.
http://fijivillage.com/news-feature/Former-CEO-and-a-senior-manager-of-Post-Fiji-Limited-charged-by-FICAC-259ksr
Anti-Graft Body's Appeal Case On Reddy Tomorrow. The Minister for Waterways, Mahendra Reddy, will appear in the High Court in Suva for his appeal case filed by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC).
http://fijisun.com.fj/2018/02/14/anti-graft-bodys-appeal-case-on-reddy-tomorrow/
Vote forgerer suspended. A courier deliveryman alleged to have forged a postal ballot was handed down a suspended sentence by the Suva Magistrates Court.
http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=434614

PAPUA NEW GUINEA:
UN rights boss slams Papua New Guinea. A United Nations human rights chief has urged Papua New Guinea to do more to stamp out corruption ahead of Port Moresby hosting the APEC summit this year.
https://www.sbs.com.au/news/un-rights-boss-slams-papua-new-guinea
PNG urged to combat corruption and strengthen rule of law. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein called on the Government of Papua New Guinea to take firm measures to combat corruption, build good governance and strengthen the rule of law.
http://www.looppng.com/community/png-urged-combat-corruption-and-strengthen-rule-law-73251
UN human rights chief laments PNG land grab problem. Mr Zeid said corruption remains rife in PNG, affecting the right to land of its citizens. His spokesperson, Ravina Shamdasani, conveyed this concern in an interview with UN Radio.
https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/350194/un-human-rights-chief-laments-png-land-grab-problem
Controversial long-serving PNG judge resigns. Sir Bernard was arrested by anti-fraud police in 2016 and charged with judicial corruption.
https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/350293/controversial-long-serving-png-judge-resigns
Fraud squad arrests Gulf man. A Gulf Province man has been arrested over the misappropriation of over K200,000 belonging to a local firm.
http://www.looppng.com/png-news/fraud-squad-arrests-gulf-man-73316
Former Works secretary arrested. A former Department of Works and Implementation secretary has been charged with one count of misappropriating over K9 million.
http://www.looppng.com/png-news/former-works-secretary-arrested-73317

SOLOMON ISLANDS:
CEO of the Indigenous Chamber of Commerce & Trade Solomon Islands reiterates call to exclude foreigners from board membership. Charles Dausabeaclaimed the fall in the interest paid to Solomon Islands National Provident Fund (SINPF) members for the previous years demonstrate corruption at the board level.
http://www.solomonstarnews.com/index.php/news/national/item/20041-dausabea-reiterates-call-to-remove-foreign-membership

To know more about the UN Pacific Regional Anti-Corruption Project please contact the team members:
Maria Adomeit, Regional Anti-Corruption Adviser, UNODC, maria.adomeit@unodc.org
Mihaela Stojkoska, Anti-Corruption Specialist - Pacific, UNDP, mihaela.stojkoska@undp.org
Maria Lee, Peace & Development Administrative Assistant, UNDP/UNODC, maria.lee@undp.org

Friday, February 16, 2018

Norway wealth fund / OECD open government / Asia-Pacific competition law

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Norway wealth fund tells companies to fight corruption. Norway's sovereign wealth fund, the world's biggest, told the 9,000 firms that it owns stakes in to boost their anti-corruption measures, including by offering whistleblowers better protection against reprisals.

Agence France Presse/New Straits Times: https://www.nst.com.my/world/2018/02/335231/norway-wealth-fund-tells-companies-fight-corruption

OECD Recommendation on Open Government. Adopted by Council on 14 December 2017, the Recommendation of the Council on Open Government calls on governments to "develop, adopt and implement open government strategies and initiatives that promote the principles of transparency, integrity, accountability and stakeholder participation in designing and delivering public policies and services, in an open and inclusive manner."

Organisation for EconomicCo-operation and Development: http://www.oecd.org/gov/recommendation-open-government-public-consultation.htm

Asia Pacific Competition Quarterly (13 Feb 2018). The report provides an overview of essential competition law developments that might affect business operations in the region.

Stephen Crosswell, Baker McKenzie/Global Compliance News: https://globalcompliancenews.com/asia-pacific-competition-quarterly-20180213/

Thursday, February 15, 2018

StAR assistance overview / Pakistan healthcare corruption / Australia open government

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Overview of Assistance StAR Can Provide to Countries. The StAR Initiative is a partnership between the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the World Bank Group that supports international efforts to end safe havens for corrupt funds.

The World Bank: http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/factsheet/2018/02/12/overview-of-the-type-of-assistance-star-can-provide-to-countries

Digitising Pakistan's healthcare system to minimise corruption: Expert. Digitising the health regulatory departments will help in reducing the chances of financial misappropriations and increasing their revenue for public healthcare expenditures, said Dr Waseem Ahmed, a UK-returned technical specialist in digitisation of management systems, who presented a project 'Emerging Pakistan' aimed at shifting paper work on digital system.

The Nation: https://nation.com.pk/13-Feb-2018/digitising-healthcare-system-to-minimise-corruption-expert

Australia Open Government plan attracting action. The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet has opened consultation on Australia's next Open Government National Action Plan, following the first plan which covered 2016-2018.

PS World News: http://www.psnews.com.au/aps/585/news/open-government-plan-attracting-action

Wednesday, February 14, 2018

Art of bureaucraft / Citizen voice failure / Technology for accountability

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The art of 'bureaucraft': Why and how bureaucrats respond to citizen voice. The aim of this research briefing is to highlight some of the more prominent issues related to bureaucratic responsiveness, particularly in relation to a 'willingness to respond'.

Anuradha Joshi & Rhiannon McCluskey/OpenDocs: https://opendocs.ids.ac.uk/opendocs/handle/123456789/13446

Addressing failure in ICT-enabled 'citizen voice – government responsiveness' interventions: unpacking core assumptions and essential components. this paper draws on three comparative studies of a range of 'citizen voice–government responsiveness interventions' from the Making All Voices Count portfolio.

Vanessa Herringshaw/OpenDocs: https://opendocs.ids.ac.uk/opendocs/handle/123456789/13442

Appropriating technology for accountability: messages from Making All Voices Count. This synthesis report shares 14 key messages on the roles technologies can play in enabling citizen voice and accountable and responsive governance.

Rosemary McGee, Duncan Edwards, Hannah Hudson, Colin Anderson, & Francesca Feruglio/OpenDocs: https://opendocs.ids.ac.uk/opendocs/handle/123456789/13452

Tuesday, February 13, 2018

Extractive sector transparency / Opentender portal/ Land rights portal

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Pioneering extractive sector transparency(paper). This is a Publish What You Pay (PWYP) perspective on 15 Years of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI).

Asmara Klein, Global Initiatives and Impact Coordinator at Publish What You Pay International Secretariat, Copenhagen, Denmark/ScienceDirect: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.exis.2017.10.008

Opentender launched. This platform allows users to search and analyse tender data from 35 jurisdictions (28 EU member states, Norway, the EU Institutions, Iceland, Switzerland, Serbia, Georgia and Armenia).

Opentender Portals: https://opentender.eu/start

Land rights data portal. This portal provides land rights data that can help learners explore and gain a better understanding of land governance issues in various countries around the world.

Landportal: https://landportal.org/

Beneficial ownership disclosure / Business integrity conference / Thailand integrity assessment

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Beneficial Ownership Disclosure by Multilateral Development Banks (commentary). "A parallel effort has begun to persuade the international development banks – the World Bank, the African Development Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development – to reveal the beneficial owners of the companies 'their monies' (read taxpayer monies) fund."

Rick Messick/Global Anticorruption Blog: https://globalanticorruptionblog.com/2018/01/31/beneficial-ownership-disclosure-by-multilateral-development-banks/

Integrity in the Digital Era global conference. "This conference (on 22 Feb 2018, in Frankfurt, Germany) aims to reflect the international relevance of taking action against corruption and support the implementation of business integrity on the ground providing a platform for a global exchange of knowledge and good practices."

Alliance for Digital Integrity: https://www.allianceforintegrity.org/en/events-and-training-activities/events/Global-Conference-2018-V-A.php

AP-INTACT shares this information strictly as a service to members. To apply or know more, visit the relevant link in the message. Please do not send your query or application to AP-INTACT. AP-INTACT is not responsible for the accuracy of the posted information, including links to web pages, and is not involved in any way in the selection practices and decisions of the sponsoring organisation.

Thailand: Integrity and Transparency Assessment of the Performance of Government Agencies (news advisory). The Cabinet has approved the proposal by the Office of the National Anti-Corruption Commission

(NACC) for all agencies in the public sector to join and cooperate in the NACC's integrity and

transparency assessment for fiscal years 2018-2021.

NACC: https://www.nacc.go.th/download/article/article_20180131180326.pdf

Sunday, February 11, 2018

Pacific Anti-Corruption Updates (10 Feb 2018): Fiji, PNG, Solomon Islands, Samoa

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FIJI:

Key trends from complaints to Fiji's Independent Commission Against Corruption. FICAC now receives over 10,000 complaints each year about a range of issues from people across the country concerned about corruption, mismanagement, and abuse of power.

http://devpolicy.org/key-trends-from-complaints-to-fijis-independent-commission-against-corruption-20180131/

Man remanded for allegedly dishonestly obtaining over $23,000. A man who allegedly obtained more than $23,000 under the Help for Home's initiative appeared in the Suva Magistrates court.

http://www.fbc.com.fj/fiji/59569/man-remanded-for-allegedly-dishonestly-obtaining-over-23,000

Defence Counsel Given Time To Respond To Written Statement. Chand is charged with one count of abuse of office.

http://fijisun.com.fj/2018/02/07/defence-counsel-given-time-to-respond-to-written-statement/

PAPUA NEW GUINEA:

PNG opposition contempt case in court. The Post Courier reported the charges relate to a warrant of arrest for the prime minister over allegations of corruption.

https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/349765/png-opposition-contempt-case-in-court

PNG Catholic Church furious over alleged land fraud. The apparently fraudulent sale came after the church obtained a restraining order when the logging company arrived unannounced on the site in November and set about establishing a camp

https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/349438/png-catholic-church-furious-over-alleged-land-fraud

SOLOMON ISLANDS:

Where to now for anti-corruption reform in Solomon Islands? (opinion) "There are reasons to be concerned about these political maneuvers. In particular, they highlight the significant difficulties faced by those seeking to challenge political corruption, which has been linked to organized crime and the decimation of the country's natural resources."

http://devpolicy.org/where-to-now-anti-corruption-reform-solomon-islands-20180202/

Police Credit Union probe still ongoing. Police investigation into the alleged misuse of the Police Credit Union is progressing well.

http://www.solomonstarnews.com/index.php/news/national/item/19971-police-credit-union-probe-still-ongoing

SAMOA:

Wouldn't it just be wonderful if the "millions" wasted through corruption could be used to raise the minimum wage instead? (opinion) "If the government does its job in creating an enabling environment for the private sector to flourish, we wouldn't be having this conversation today."

http://sobserver.ws/en/03_02_2018/editorial/29541/Wouldn%E2%80%99t-it-just-be-wonderful-if-the-%E2%80%9Cmillions%E2%80%9D-wasted-through-corruption-could-be-used-to-raise-the-minimum-wage-instead.htm

To know more about the UN Pacific Regional Anti-Corruption Project please contact the team members:

Maria Adomeit, Regional Anti-Corruption Adviser, UNODC, maria.adomeit@unodc.org

Mihaela Stojkoska, Anti-Corruption Specialist - Pacific, UNDP, mihaela.stojkoska@undp.org

Maria Lee, Peace & Development Administrative Assistant, UNDP/UNODC, maria.lee@undp.org

Friday, February 9, 2018

Philippines ranking drop / Australia corruption risk / Hong Kong freest economy

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Philippines suffers world's biggest drop in rule of law under Duterte. The Philippines, under President Rodrigo Duterte, has experienced the biggest drop in rule of law globally over the last 12 months, according to a new report from the World Justice Project (WJP).

Asian Correspondent: https://asiancorrespondent.com/2018/02/philippines-suffers-worlds-biggest-drop-rule-law-duterte

Corruption Threatens Australia's Defense Program. In pursuing its massive defense building program, Australia must protect itself against critical corruption risks.

Chris Douglas/The Diplomat: https://thediplomat.com/2018/02/corruption-threatens-australias-defense-program/

Hong Kong ranks world's freest economy for 24th straight year. Hong Kong took the top place in the ranking of the 2018 Index of Economic Freedom for the 24th consecutive year, according to a report issued by the U.S. Heritage Foundation.

Xinhua: http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-02/02/c_136945298.htm

Disinformation and democracy / Offshore Leaks Database / Assessing anti-corruption campaigns

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Disinformation and Democracy. A two-part investigation into the threats to democracy posed by fake news and propaganda on social media.

Al Jazeera: http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/peopleandpower/2018/02/disinformation-democracy-180201060250730.html

How to investigate companies found in the Offshore Leaks Database. This is the final of a three-part series on ways to search the ICIJ's Offshore Leaks Database that now includes more than 680,000 entities from 55 secrecy jurisdictions.

Cecille S. Gallego/International Consortium of Investigative Journalists: https://www.icij.org/blog/2018/01/investigate-companies-found-offshore-leaks-database/?utm_content=buffere5f9d&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

How Can We Assess the Sincerity of Anticorruption Campaigns? (commentary) "As political purges are increasingly clothed in the garb of anticorruption, it is important for outsiders to develop a core of common questions with which to interrogate the intentions of a given campaign, especially in its early stages. "

Thomas Ewing/Global Anticorruption Blog: https://globalanticorruptionblog.com/2018/02/02/how-can-we-assess-the-sincerity-of-anticorruption-campaigns/

Thursday, February 8, 2018

UNODC cartoon campaign / Rule of Law / Facebook democracy threat

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UNODC pilot tests values education cartoon among primary schoolers in Mexico. Following the recent unveiling of UNODC's cartoon campaign, The Zorbs, the first Latin America pilot testing was held at the Colegio Romera primary school in Mexico City to bring in the perspective and experiences of young students, as well as primary level teachers, from this part of the world.
UNODC & The Doha Declaration: https://www.unodc.org/dohadeclaration/en/news/2018/01/e4j-advances-value-based-and-skills-education-for-primary-students-in-mexico.html
See also: UNODC develops new animated series to help promote primary-level ethics education. http://www.unodc.org/dohadeclaration/en/news/2017/11/unodc-develops-new-animated-series-to-help-promote-primary-level-ethics-education.html

Rule of Law Index 2017–2018. Featuring primary data, the WJP Rule of Law Index measures countries’ rule of law performance across eight factors: Constraints on Government Powers, Absence of Corruption, Open Government, Fundamental Rights, Order and Security, Regulatory Enforcement, Civil Justice, and Criminal Justice.
World Justice Project: https://worldjusticeproject.org/our-work/wjp-rule-law-index/wjp-rule-law-index-2017%E2%80%932018

Facebook admits social media threat to democracy. "We're as determined as ever to fight the negative influences and ensure that our platform is unquestionably a source for democratic good," said Katie Harbath, Facebook's head of global politics and government outreach, in an accompanying statement.
Channel News Asia: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/technology/facebook-admits-social-media-threat-to-democracy-9886118

Tuesday, February 6, 2018

Sri Lanka corruption court / Philippines anti-graft chief / Promise and peril

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Sri Lanka Government takes steps to set up a special high court for bribery and corruption cases. The cabinet has already given its approval to amend the Judicature Act No 2 of 1978 in order to establish a three-member high court dedicated to hear bribery, corruption, and highly complex financial crimes speedily.

Colombo Page: http://www.colombopage.com/archive_18A/Jan31_1517382823CH.php

Anti-graft chief defies Philippine President Duterte's suspension order. The Philippines' top anti-corruption prosecutor defied an order by President Rodrigo Duterte to suspend her deputy on suspicion of leaking his bank records, accusing the Filipino leader of breaching the Constitution with the demand.

The Japan Times: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2018/01/31/asia-pacific/anti-graft-chief-defies-philippine-president-dutertes-suspension-order/

Promise and Peril: Blockchain, Bitcoin and the Fight Against Corruption (commentary). "The risks of cryptocurrencies enabling illicit financial flows cannot be overlooked."

Transparency International: https://www.transparency.org/news/feature/blockchain_bitcoin_and_the_fight_against_corruption

Monday, February 5, 2018

Extractives online course / Myanmar digital forum / Philippines education transparency

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NRGI/WB/UN/Columbia online course on extractives launches. The Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI) relaunches its online course on Natural Resources for Sustainable Development: The Fundamentals of Oil, Gas, and Mining Governance with new and revised content on 5 February 2018, including video transcripts in Spanish, French and Russian, and a fully Arabic version at http://bit.ly/resource-course-arabic.

To know more or apply, please visit https://resourcegovernance.org/natural-resources-sustainable-development-fundamentals-oil-gas-and-mining-governance

Thank you to Katarina L. Kuai, Senior Program Officer, Natural Resource Governance Institute, for sharing this information.

Second Myanmar Digital Rights Forum Widens the Digital Rights Community. On 18 January, over 130 participants attended the second digital rights forum in Yangon hosted and co-organised by Phandeeyar Myanmar Innovation Lab together with Myanmar ICT for Development Organization, Engage-Media, Free Expression Myanmar, and Myanmar Centre for Responsible Business (MCRB), with support from the Government of Sweden.

MCRB: http://www.myanmar-responsiblebusiness.org/news/digital-rights-forum-2018.html

Thank you to MCRB for sharing this information.

Philippine education agency reiterates use of open school data to combat corruption. The Department of Education said that among its strategies to show better transparency were the publication of a school report card (which discloses school funding, student enrollment, and pupil-teacher ratios) and the creation of a transparency board in schools in strategic areas.

Ma. Cristina Arayata, Philippine News Agency/Philippine Canadian Inquirer: http://www.canadianinquirer.net/2018/01/31/deped-reiterates-use-of-open-school-data-to-combat-corruption/

Sunday, February 4, 2018

UNODC eNews / UNDP news centre / OGP news

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eNews UNODC. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) publishes this update of the latest UNODC and international drugs and crime news.

Click here to read Issue No. 104, 1 February 2018: https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/enewsunodc/2018/February/unodc-enews---1-february-2018.html

UNDP Asia-Pacific news centre. The latest news on the work of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific.

Visit UNDP's online News Centre here: http://www.asia-pacific.undp.org/content/rbap/en/home/presscenter.html

Open Government Partnership in the news. A weekly round-up of Open Government Partnership (OGP) media coverage around the world.

Read the Week of 22 January 2018 edition: https://www.opengovpartnership.org/about/news-and-events/ogp-news-week-of-january-22-2018

Saturday, February 3, 2018

Pacific Anti-Corruption Updates (3 Feb 2018): Fiji, PNG, Solomon Islands, Samoa, Tonga

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FIJI:

Customs recognition. "Customs can contribute to the increased security of the business environment by focusing on activities that promote an enabling, safe, and fair and sustainable environment including by streamlining procedures, tackling corruption, enhancing integrity, and facilitating the movement of people, goods and craft."

http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=432771

High Court Grants FICAC Time. The Fiji Independent Commission against Corruption (FICAC) was given until 29 January 2018 to respond to a strike out application filed by counsel for former Fiji National University Vice-Chancellor Ganesh Chand, who is charged with one count of abuse of office.

http://fijisun.com.fj/2018/01/23/high-court-grants-ficac-time/

PAPUA NEW GUINEA:

Transparency International PNG Celebrates 21 Years. The Papua New Guinea Chapter of Transparency International began its operations on 29 January 1997.

http://www.emtv.com.pg/transparency-international-png-celebrates-21-years/

World Report 2018 - Papua New Guinea: Events of 2017. "Individuals in positions of power and government agencies lack accountability and transparency."

https://reliefweb.int/report/papua-new-guinea/world-report-2018-papua-new-guinea-events-2017

SOLOMON ISLANDS:

Secret Funds Exposed. An investigation by Island Sun alleges that Taiwan has been providing up to $17 million a year since 2015 to keep the government intact.

http://theislandsun.com.sb/secret-funds-exposed/

Taiwan accused of bankrolling Solomons slush fund. Taiwan has been named in a local media report about a multi-million dollar slush fund for Solomon Islands' prime ministers.

http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/349312/taiwan-accused-of-bankrolling-solomons-slush-fund

SAMOA:

Government moves to stop election corruption. In tabling the Constitutional amendment, Prime Minister Tuilaepa called on the House Members to weigh reforms because it reflects the government's genuine drive to weed out corruption from electoral processes.

http://sobserver.ws/en/31_01_2018/local/29417/Govt-moves-to-stop-election-corruption.htm

Constitution Amendment Bill 2018 tabled. According to a statement issued by the Government's Press Secretary, the reforms are part of the wholesale approach by Government to completely overhaul the local electoral processes to eliminate corruption and illegal practices.

http://sobserver.ws/en/01_02_2018/local/29465/Constitution-Amendment-Bill-2018-tabled.htm

Passport accused pleads not guilty. Former Immigration Officer, David Nomereta Uaine, pleaded not guilty in the Supreme Court to 32 charges including forgery, corruption, bribery, improper issue of Samoan travel documents, unlawful recording of information from passport database, as well as false representation.

http://sobserver.ws/en/30_01_2018/local/29386/Passport-accused-pleads-not-guilty.htm

TONGA:

People ready to build nation, but corruption has made government dysfunctional, says PM. Some senior government officials have abused foreign-funded projects, Prime Minister Akilisi Pohiva told Kaniva News.

http://kanivatonga.nz/2018/01/people-ready-build-nation-corruption-made-government-dysfunctional-says-pm/

Hotel pay supervisor stole "ghost employees" payroll. A former administration officer for the Tanoa Hotel, Selemana Fonua was found guilty of false accounting and theft of $21,299 pa'anga by the Tonga Supreme Court.

http://matangitonga.to/2018/01/29/hotel-pay-supervisor-stole-ghost-employees-payroll

To know more about the UN Pacific Regional Anti-Corruption Project please contact the team members:

Maria Adomeit, Regional Anti-Corruption Adviser, UNODC, maria.adomeit@unodc.org

Mihaela Stojkoska, Anti-Corruption Specialist - Pacific, UNDP, mihaela.stojkoska@undp.org

Maria Lee, Peace & Development Administrative Assistant, UNDP/UNODC, maria.lee@undp.org

Friday, February 2, 2018

Secure messaging apps / Corruption link / Cryptocurrency crackdown

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Secure MessagingApps Are Growing Faster in Corrupt Countries (commentary). "Secure messaging apps [such as WhatsApp, Telegram, and Signal] are growing overall, and growing most in corrupt countries."

Brandon Labelle/Apptopia: https://blog.apptopia.com/secure-msging-growth-corrupt

Signal and Telegram are growing rapidly in countries with corruption problems. "There's a distinct link between perceptions of corruption, and the use of privacy-protecting messaging apps."

Matthew Hughes/The Next Web: https://thenextweb.com/apps/2018/01/23/signal-and-telegram-are-growing-rapidly-in-countries-with-corruption-problems/

How to Crack Down on Cryptocurrencies (commentary). "By targeting the ability to transfer bitcoins to other currencies – even just to USD and Euros – governments can begin to clamp down on this unregulated currency and undercut efforts to use it for nefarious purposes."

Jetson Leder-Luis/Global Anticorruption Blog: https://globalanticorruptionblog.com/2018/01/12/cryptocurrency-and-corruption/

Thursday, February 1, 2018

South Korea chaebols / Philippines corruption prober / Vietnam anti-corruption mechanisms

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Why Samsung's Recent Conviction Will Not Rid South Korea of Chaebols (commentary). "Why is it that South Korea seems to lack the political will not only to dismantle the chaebols, but even to hold Samsung (and other large chaebols) accountable for corrupt activities?"

Janie Ponder/Global Anticorruption Blog: https://globalanticorruptionblog.com/2018/01/29/why-samsungs-recent-conviction-will-not-rid-south-korea-of-chaebols/

Philippines' Duterte sanctions corruption prober after bank records 'leak'. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte punished an anti-graft prosecutor suspected of leaking his bank records on Monday (Jan 29) after an opposition politician had accused Duterte of corruption.

Channel News Asia: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asiapacific/philippines--duterte-sanctions-corruption-prober-after-bank-records--leak--9906584

Vietnamese deputy PM says mechanisms needed to prevent corruption. He underlined the need to improve the efficiency of the fight against organised, economic and high-tech crimes, dangerous gangs, terrorism, human trafficking, money laundering, smuggling, counterfeit products, child abuse and corruption, asking ministries and agencies to deploy measures to deal with criminals who flee abroad.

Vietnam Plus: https://en.vietnamplus.vn/mechanisms-needed-to-prevent-corruption-deputy-pm/125775.vnp