CPI top countries / Thailand anti-graft mission / Viet Nam campaign endures

CPI 2019: Trouble at the top.  “Despite some high-profile fines and prosecutions, our research shows that enforcement of foreign bribery laws among OECD countries is shockingly low. The outsized roles that some companies play in their national economies gives them political support that too often triumphs over real accountability. Some banks and businesses aren’t just too big to fail – they’re also too powerful to pay.”

Transparency International: https://www.transparency.org/news/feature/cpi_2019_Trouble_at_the_top

 

Anti-graft mission failing (Editorial).  “The [Thai] prime minister and those in power have over the past five years "talked a good fight" against graft, but failed to match it with effective blows. That failure naturally triggered questions about transparency, or the lack thereof.”

Bangkok Post: https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/1845094/anti-graft-mission-failing   

 

Will Vietnam’s anti-corruption campaign endure beyond Trong?  “So while the new leadership will undoubtedly maintain the fight against corruption, it may be less broad and intense than it was under the watch of Trong. But this does not mean that the anti-corruption drive will become less consequential for Vietnam’s political economy.

Le Hong Hiep/East Asia Forum: https://www.eastasiaforum.org/2020/01/29/will-vietnams-anti-corruption-campaign-endure-beyond-trong/  

Fostering cleaner politics / World Bank data use / Bangladesh political will

Building political integrity to stamp out corruption: three steps to cleaner politics.  “Preventing undue influence in elections, ensuring that policy-making is not captured by narrow interests, and strengthening oversight and scrutiny of the decisions taken by those in power, are three of the basic building blocks for anti-corruption and good governance.”

Roberto Martínez B. Kukutschka, Jorge Valladares and Jon Vrushi/Transparency International: https://www.transparency.org/news/feature/cpi_2019_political_integrity

 

How the World Bank is using data to better detect fraud and corruption (Blog).  “We have recently embarked on a data modernization effort to better understand the fraud and corruption risks our institution faces and to better anticipate problems as they come up… we have built an online application to detect patterns among companies bidding on Bank-financed projects.”

Ethiopis Tafara/World Bank: http://blogs.worldbank.org/governance/how-world-bank-using-data-better-detect-fraud-and-corruption

 

Do we have the political will to improve? (Opinion).  “Such expectation [that Bangladesh would score better on the Corruption Perception Index] could also be attributed to the Prime Minister’s declaration in the context of the high-profile anti-corruption drive that no one involved in corruption would be spared, irrespective of political affiliation, including her own party.”

Iftekharuzzaman/The Daily Star: https://www.thedailystar.net/opinion/news/do-we-have-the-political-will-improve-1858135

Davos Manifesto 2020 / Public contractors compliance / CPI 2019 infographic

Davos Manifesto 2020: The Universal Purpose of a Company in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.  “A company serves its customers by providing a value proposition that best meets their needs. It accepts and supports fair competition and a level playing field. It has zero tolerance for corruption.”

World Economic Forum: https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2019/12/davos-manifesto-2020-the-universal-purpose-of-a-company-in-the-fourth-industrial-revolution/

 

Requiring Public Contractors To Have Anticorruption Compliance Programs May Sound Like a Good Idea—But Not When Government Capacity Is Lacking (Blog).  “…as long as the public administration is not sufficiently prepared to evaluate the genuine effectiveness of such programs, imposing them by law is likely to generate unnecessary costs and frictions without producing meaningful substantive improvements in corporate policies or culture.”

Victor Aguiar de Carvalho/The Global Anticorruption Blog: https://globalanticorruptionblog.com/2020/01/17/requiring-public-contractors-to-have-anticorruption-compliance-programs-may-sound-like-a-good-idea-but-not-when-government-capacity-is-lacking/

 

Where Corruption Is Rampant [Infographic].  “Despite anti-corruption movements gaining momentum around the world last year, the research found that a staggering number of countries have showed little to no improvement in tackling the problem.”

Niall McCarthy/Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/sites/niallmccarthy/2020/01/24/where-corruption-is-rampant-infographic/  

Thailand waste mismanagement / New KickBack Podcast / China ex-Interpol president

Trash Mountain, a story of severe waste mismanagement.  “…at the price of 5,000 baht [approx. US$165] per tonne, smugglers do little more than cart the trash away for dumping in municipal landfills, paying bribes to law enforcement and community members to turn a blind eye.

Jasmine Chia/Thai Enquirer: https://www.thaienquirer.com/7028/trash-mountain-a-story-of-severe-waste-mismanagement-2/

 

New Podcast, Featuring Charles Davidson (Podcast/Blog).  “Charles Davidson, currently the publisher of the American Interest magazine, and previously the co-founder of Global Financial Integrity and the Hudson Institute’s Kleptocracy Initiative…discuss a variety of topics, including financial integrity, beneficial ownership transparency, and kleptocracy–including the threat that kleptocratic wealth from authoritarian states poses to liberal democracies, the use of targeted sanctions against individual corrupt actors, and concerns about how kleptocrats use Western institutions not only to launder their money, but also to launder their reputations.”

Matthew Stephenson and Charles Davidson/KickBack: The Global Anticorruption Podcast: https://globalanticorruptionblog.com/2020/01/14/new-podcast-featuring-charles-davidson/  

 

Former Interpol President Sentenced To Prison In China For Corruption.  Meng Hongwei pleaded guilty to using his position in China to finagle more than $2 million in bribes between 2005 and 2017. Prior to his 2016 election as Interpol president, he served more than a decade as China's vice minister of public security.

Colin Dwyer/NPR: https://www.npr.org/2020/01/21/798121397/former-interpol-president-sentenced-to-prison-in-china-for-corruption

CPI Asia Pacific / India electoral bond / Indonesia ex-party chairman

CPI 2019: Asia Pacific.  “A regional average of 45, after many consecutive years of an average score of 44, illustrates general stagnation across the Asia Pacific. Despite the presence of high performers like New Zealand (87), Singapore (85), Australia (77), Hong Kong (76) and Japan (73), the Asia Pacific region hasn’t witnessed substantial progress in anti-corruption efforts or results.”

Transparency International: https://www.transparency.org/news/feature/cpi_2019_Asia_Pacific

 

India’s New Electoral Bond Scheme Won’t Reduce Electoral Corruption. It Will Make the Problem Worse (Blog).  “…the reality is that India has enabled large-scale anonymous donations via shell companies in tax havens explicitly set up for this purpose. At a time when Western liberal democracies are grappling with the corrupting influence of big money in politics, India has just opened the floodgates, and done it in a way that shuts out any kind of oversight.”

Inayat Sabhikhi/The Global Anticorruption Blog:   https://globalanticorruptionblog.com/2020/01/20/indias-new-electoral-bond-scheme-wont-reduce-electoral-corruption-it-will-make-the-problem-worse/

 

Former PPP Chairman Romahurmuziy Jailed for Graft.  “Judges at the Jakarta Anti-Corruption Court said Romahurmuziy [Former United Development Party (PPP) chairman] was proven to have taken a bribe from two Religious Affairs Ministry officials in return for helping both men get a promotion.”

Jakarta Globe: https://jakartaglobe.id/news/former-ppp-chairman-romahurmuziy-jailed-for-graft

Pacific Anti-Corruption Updates (25 January 2020): PNG, Solomon Islands, Fiji

Storms brewing: Pacific outlook for 2020.  As a new decade dawns much of the Pacific is grappling with major upheavals from climate and health crises to political disruption and self-determination struggles. RNZ Pacific's Jamie Tahana and Johnny Blades look at the state of play across the region's countries and territories and what's on the cards for 2020.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/407554/storms-brewing-pacific-outlook-for-2020

 

PNG:

Human Rights Stagnate Under New Leadership in Papua New Guinea. Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister James Marape came to power last year with a promise to set straight the country’s troubled legacy of corruption, economic mismanagement and widespread human rights abuses, but progress remains slow according to a damning report released last week by Human Rights Watch. 

https://thediplomat.com/2020/01/human-rights-stagnate-under-new-leadership-in-papua-new-guinea/

 

SOLOMON ISLANDS:

Mangau: Janus still exists Acting Police Commissioner. Mostyn Mangau says anti-corruption taskforce Janus still exists and continuing with investigations into corruption cases.

http://www.solomonstarnews.com/index.php/news/national/item/22574-mangau-janus-still-exists

 

FIJI:

Former Assistant Treasurer of iTaukei Affairs Board pleads guilty to charges of corruption. FICAC charged Taniela Jerema with a count each of Obtaining a Financial Advantage and Causing a Loss.

https://fijivillage.com/news/Former-Assistant-Treasurer-of-iTaukei-Affairs-Board-pleads-guilty-to-charges-of-corruption--9s5k2r

 

Former staff of the Ministry of Rural and Maritime Development and Natural Disaster and a company Director plead not guilty to corruption-related charges. A former staff of the Ministry of Rural and Maritime Development and Natural Disaster and a company Director have pleaded not guilty to corruption-related charges in the Labasa Magistrates Court.

https://fijivillage.com/news/Former-staff-of-the-Ministry-of-Rural-and-Maritime-Development-and-Natural-Disaster-and-a-company-Director-plead-not-guilty-to-corruption-related-charges-25k9sr/

Japan casino bill / Open procurement FAQs / Malaysia Penang project

Japan opposition submits bill to scrap casino laws amid bribery scandal.  “Four major opposition parties introduced a bill to scrap laws on casino resorts to the Diet… “Casinos would be hotbeds of fraud and corruption,” a senior [Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan] official said.”

The Japan Times: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/01/20/national/politics-diplomacy/japan-opposition-bill-scrap-casino-laws/#.Xigd68j7Tb0

 

Five Frequently Asked Questions about Implementing Local Public Procurement Processes (Blog).  “…to make public contracting processes more open, inclusive, and responsive to the needs of people and to make data and documents in these procurement processes available to inform debate and decision making…governments can save tax money, make better use of public resources, deliver better public goods and services, boost integrity, and prevent fraud and corruption.”

Katria Tomko/Open Government Partnership: https://www.opengovpartnership.org/stories/five-frequently-asked-questions-about-implementing-local-public-procurement-processes/   

 

Penang dept director and son charged with graft, power abuse.  “[Mohd Saidi Midin, a] Penang National Unity and Integration Department director has been charged at the Sessions Court here with using his position to grant a project worth RM45,472 to a company belonging to his son four years ago.”

The Star: https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2020/01/21/penang-dept-director-and-son-charged-with-graft-power-abuse

Thai inequality problems / Pakistan 2019 cases / Bhutan bill amendment

Thai inequality: What we should know (Opinion).  “The lack of social and political stability, the low quality of democracy, the flesh trade and human trafficking, crime, corruption ... you name it. These social evils are different manifestations of structural problems that share the same root cause -- inequality.”

Somchai Jitsuchon/Bangkok Post: https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/1840739/thai-inequality-what-we-should-know

 

NAB working hard to nab corrupt elements: chairman Javed Iqbal.  “[Pakistan’s National Accountability Bureau (NAB)] chairman said due to NAB’s across the road actions against corrupt elements as compared to previous year 2018, NAB during 2019 received 463,845 complaints, disposed of 450,546 complaints and 13,299 complaints are under process which will be disposed of during 2020 on merit as per law.”

Asim Yasin/The News: https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/601450-nab-working-hard-to-nab-corrupt-elements-chairman-javed-iqbal

 

Anti-Corruption (Amendment) Bill third reading scheduled for the fourth session.  “Paro’s Lamgong-Wangchag Member of Parliament Ugyen Tshering said the law review taskforce recommended the amendment of the Anti-Corruption Act of Bhutan 2011 and the good governance committee was assigned with the responsibility. “We have consulted the Anti-Corruption Commission officials more than three times.”

Tashi Dema/Kuensel: https://kuenselonline.com/anti-corruption-amendment-bill-third-reading-scheduled-for-the-fourth-session/  

International relations corruption / Responsible business roadmap / Myanmar beneficial ownership

Why Fighting Corruption Is Key in a ‘New Era of Great-Power Competition’ (Blog).  “Political systems plagued by graft are more susceptible to foreign malign influence because they incentivize leaders to accumulate power and wealth rather than advance broader national interests. Newer democracies and authoritarian governments are particularly vulnerable because their institutions are weak or have been captured by elites.”

Patrick Quirk and Eguiar Lizundia/World Politics Review: https://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/articles/28481/why-fighting-corruption-is-key-in-a-new-era-of-great-power-competition

 

A transparency roadmap to run a responsible business: four things that say you really mean it (Blog).  “This change in discourse towards more transparent, fairer and responsible business is a positive step; however, societies will need to see that corporations, including the partners of WEF Davos 2020, take clear actions and openly report on their progress against the commitments they are making.”

Transparency International:https://voices.transparency.org/a-transparency-roadmap-to-run-a-responsible-business-four-things-that-say-you-really-mean-it-640c4b87e4b7

 

The Irrawaddy Business Roundup.  “A [Myanmar] government investment agency, the Directorate of Investment and Company Administration (DICA), has publicized beneficial ownership information of over 120 extractive companies and state-owned enterprises for the first time on its website, aiming to increase transparency in the sector.”

Nan Lwin/The Irrawaddy: https://www.irrawaddy.com/business/business-roundup/irrawaddy-business-roundup-2.html

Thailand anti-corruption committee / Philippines ex-police chief / Cambodia existential problem

Pareena’s appointment to anti-corruption committee met with criticism.  “The [Thai] government appointed MP Pareena Kraikupt to the parliament’s anti-corruption committee…a move that has been met with criticism by the opposition. Pareena is currently under investigation by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) for alleged encroachment and illegal building on national park land.”

Cod Satrusayang/Thai Enquirer: https://www.thaienquirer.com/6689/pareenas-appointment-to-anti-corruption-committee-met-with-criticism/   

 

Ex-police chief Oscar Albayalde, who oversaw Duterte’s drug war, to be charged for corruption in Philippines.  “The former chief police enforcer of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s deadly war on drugs will be charged with corruption for allegedly protecting officers linked to the narcotics trade, the justice department said”

South China Morning Post: https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3046452/ex-police-chief-oscar-albayalde-who-oversaw-dutertes-drug

 

Hun Sen has an existential corruption problem (Opinion).  “Cambodia’s remarkable economic growth since the 1990s has been driven largely by a lack of regulation, low taxation and the widespread acceptance that rules can be broken if it brings development.”

David Hutt/The Asia Times: https://www.asiatimes.com/2020/01/article/hun-sen-has-an-existential-corruption-problem/

 

Professional-grassroots activism divide / Indonesia law challenge / 1MDB hurts Goldman Sachs

Bridging the Elite-Grassroots Divide Among Anticorruption Activists (Paper/Resource).  “As the field has become more professionalized, anticorruption nongovernment organizations (NGOs) have developed the legal and technical expertise to serve as excellent counterparts/watchdogs for government. Yet this strength can also be a hurdle when it comes to building credibility with the everyday people they seek to represent.”

Abigail Bellows/Carnegie Endowment for International Peace: https://carnegieendowment.org/2020/01/07/bridging-elite-grassroots-divide-among-anticorruption-activists-pub-80687

 

Plaintiffs struggle to obtain evidence in attempt to challenge revised KPK Law.  “Lawyers representing a coalition of civil society groups that are challenging the controversial 2019 Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Law have complained about difficulties in securing evidence to support their petition for a judicial review of the recently enacted law… because they did not get access to the necessary documents, said Viola Reinida, one of the lawyers.”

The Jakarta Post: https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2020/01/12/plaintiffs-struggle-to-obtain-evidence-in-attempt-to-challenge-revised-kpk-law.html

 

1MDB settlement hurts Goldman Sachs Q4 profits.  “Goldman Sachs reported a drop in fourth-quarter profits…following a mixed performance in its operating businesses as it set aside $1.1 billion in anticipation of settlements in the 1MDB scandal.”

John Biers/The Asia Times: https://www.asiatimes.com/2020/01/article/1mdb-settlement-hurts-goldman-sachs-q4-profits/

Pacific Anti-Corruption Updates (18 January 2020): PNG, Solomon Islands, Fiji, Vanuatu

PNG:

Damning report into state of Papua New Guinea released. A human rights organisation has released a damning report into the state of Papua New Guinea, where a change of prime minister has done little to tackle rampant violence and corruption.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/407386/damning-report-into-state-of-papua-new-guinea-released

Juffa urges political parties to erase stigma. Northern Governor Gary Juffa said during his term from 2012 up to present, he has observed that politics has been heavily stigmatized and widely considered as a dirty word associated with corruption.

https://postcourier.com.pg/juffa-urges-political-parties-to-erase-stigma/

Opinion: Improving health outcomes in Papua New Guinea. In turn, political, social, and cultural issues such as corruption, misallocation of resources, and the lack of appropriate and adaptable health education and messaging have resulted in an HIV/AIDS epidemic of a scale and scope unprecedented in the region.

https://www.devex.com/news/sponsored/opinion-improving-health-outcomes-in-papua-new-guinea-94445

 

SOLOMON ISLANDS:

Commissioners Inducted into Anti-Corruption Commission. The Solomon Islands Government has set the fight against corruption as one of its major priorities and has recently appointed commissioners for the newly established Solomon Islands Independent Commission Against Corruption (SIICAC).

https://www.solomontimes.com/news/commissioners-inducted-into-anticorruption-commission/9511

Logging is corrupting these islands. One village fights back and wins. The Solomon Islands is being stripped bare by foreign logging companies, in some cases acting illegally. A community takes action to preserve its future.

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2020/01/deforestation-in-the-solomon-islands/

 

FIJI:

Former passport manager to be sentenced next month. Sakiusa is charged by FICAC for one count each of conspiracy to influence public officials and abuse of office. 

https://fijisun.com.fj/2020/01/16/former-passport-manager-to-be-sentenced-next-month/

 

VANUATU:

Vanuatu slammed by Henley & Partners despite steps towards improving CBI Programmes. Despite Vanuatu’s attempts at harmonising and improving its two Programmes, Henley & Partners, one of the economic citizenship industry’s major players, has said it refuses to associate with Vanuatu’s Programmes due to the country’s ‘reputation for corruption.’

https://wicnews.com/world/vanuatu-slammed-henley-partners-despite-steps-towards-improving-cbi-programmes-153125134/

 

 

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

Annika Wythes, Regional Anti-Corruption Adviser, UNODC, annika.wythes@un.org

Marine Destrez, Anti-Corruption Specialist – Pacific a.i., UNDP, marine.destrez@undp.org

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

Philippines corruption cost / Indonesia regional elections / Myanmar auditor-general concerned

Corruption costs (Editorial).  “A recent report gives an indication of the extent of the problem. At last week’s congress of the construction industry, an official of the economic think tank and advocacy group REID or Research, Education and Institutional Development Foundation disclosed that corruption and delays eat up from 15 to 35 percent of the budget per project of construction companies… Contractors are pinning their hopes for reforms on the effective implementation of laws promoting ease of doing business.”

The Philippine Star: https://www.philstar.com/opinion/2020/01/13/1984292/editorial-corruption-costs

 

Concerns raised over 2020 regional elections amid KPU graft case.  “A recent graft case involving a top official of the General Elections Commission (KPU) has raised concerns over the upcoming simultaneous regional elections [in Indonesia] scheduled for September 2020.”

The Jakarta Post: https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2020/01/12/concerns-raised-over-2020-regional-elections-amid-kpu-graft-case.html

 

Auditor-General Raises Concerns That Yangon MPs Can’t Properly Debate Govt Spending Without Her Full Report.  “The auditor-general of Yangon has voiced displeasure at only being allowed to submit a partial report on the Yangon government’s spending to the regional parliament, rather than the full one, raising concerns about whether lawmakers are being denied the information they need to properly scrutinize the government’s spending.”

Kyaw Phyo Tha/The Irrawaddy: https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/auditor-general-raises-concerns-that-yangon-mps-cant-properly-debate-govt-spending-without-her-full-report.html

Myanmar online services / Corruption and poverty / Business ethical culture

DICA to provide more services online.  “[Myanmar’s] Directorate of Investment and Company Administration (DICA) plans to digitalise all its services to speed up processes and reduce corruption risks.”

Htin Lynn Aung/Myanmar Times: https://www.mmtimes.com/news/dica-provide-more-services-online.html

 

Corruption, Not Globalization, Is To Blame For Poverty (Opinion).  “The information we have about the real world, however, does not provide ammunition for those who want to blame poverty on globalization. What it does provide is relevant arguments that lack of corruption and good legal and judicial institutions are necessary conditions for the benefits of globalization to reach the poor.”

Alejandro Chafuen/Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/sites/alejandrochafuen/2020/01/07/corruption-not-globalization-is-to-blame-for-poverty/   

 

How businesses can create an ethical culture in the age of tech.  “We recommend that executives identify and support mechanisms in their own organizations that factor processes in to consider the complexities presented by ethical decision making. Even if the processes are complex, the contribution to value creation that ethics offers can be tangible and economically significant in the longer term.”

Ann Skeet/World Economic Forum: https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/01/how-businesses-can-create-an-ethical-culture-in-the-age-of-tech/  

Malaysia 1MDB evidence / Republic of Korea prosecutors reassignment / Japan casino regulation

1MDB scandal: Malaysia’s former PM 'asked UAE to fake evidence'.  “Malaysia’s former prime minister, Najib Razak, allegedly sought help from the United Arab Emirates’ crown prince to fake evidence in an effort to cover up for the 1MDB scandal, according to audio clips revealed by Malaysian anti-corruption officials.”

The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/08/1mdb-scandal-malaysias-former-pm-asked-uae-to-fake-evidence   

 

South Korea's Moon Jae-in reassigns prosecutors probing his government.  South Korean President Moon Jae-in's government reassigned three top prosecutors overseeing corruption into his administration, prompting cries from the opposition that he crossed a red line months before national elections.

The Straits Times: https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/south-koreas-moon-jae-in-reassigns-prosecutors-probing-his-government

 

Japan Launches Casino Regulatory Body amid Bribery Scandal.  “The Japanese government launched a body to regulate casino resorts…amid a bribery scandal that could threaten its strategy to shore up economic growth through the introduction of such facilities…The new Casino Regulatory Commission, affiliated to the Cabinet Office, has the authority to issue licenses necessary to run casinos in Japan and impose administrative punishments for irregularities, including the cancellation of licenses.”

Nippon.com: https://www.nippon.com/en/news/yjj2020010700787/japan-launches-casino-regulatory-body-amid-bribery-scandal.html

Myanmar advocacy video / UNDP anti-corruption work / Samsung oversight panel

UNDP Myanmar cooperated with the Myanmar ACC to ask people about their views on corruption (Video).  See a short advocacy video of citizens expressing their thoughts on corruption and its effects on Myanmar’s society and development.

United Nations Development Programme and Anti-Corruption Commission of Myanmar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izTkm7taH2U&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR1IGQHhPlA2odrZldRDbmMZIBFWClpK_DF4Ejlx7HkQNEjLPwrj3f5wRqI

 

Addressing corruption can even the playing field in an era of widening inequalities (Blog).  “With Australia’s support, over the past two decades UNDP has helped countries to identify the drivers of corruption and opportunities for change. As we step into the ‘decade of action’ for the Sustainable Development Goals, countries can further accelerate progress in a number of ways…”

Valerie Cliff/United Nations Development Programme: https://www.asia-pacific.undp.org/content/rbap/en/home/blog/2020/addressing_corruption_can_even_the_playing_field_in_an_era_of_widening_inequalities.html

 

Samsung Sets Up Anti-Corruption Panel As Chief Faces Trials.  “South Korea’s Samsung Group, whose leader faces trials over a bribery scandal involving former president Park Geun-hye, has appointed external experts to a new oversight panel to stamp out criminal conduct, the chief of the committee said… The move came after a judge overseeing Samsung leader Jay Y. Lee’s bribery case in October criticized the top conglomerate for its lack of an effective compliance system, saying one was needed to prevent wrongdoing by executives and its leader.”

Heekyong Yang/One America News Network: https://www.oann.com/samsung-sets-up-anti-corruption-panel-as-chief-faces-trials/

Myanmar spending report / Republic of Korea FDI deterrence / Indonesia new law

Blocking Access to Spending Report May Violate Myanmar Graft Law, Watchdog Warns Yangon Govt.  “[Yangon Watch, an] independent watchdog monitoring the Yangon government’s performance has warned that the regional administration’s ban on distributing the auditor-general’s report to lawmakers for parliamentary debate could lead to violations of the country’s anti-corruption law.”

Kyaw Phyo Tha/The Irrawaddy: https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/blocking-access-spending-report-may-violate-myanmar-graft-law-watchdog-warns-yangon-govt.html

 

To boost South Korea's faltering economy, end corruption and invigorate the rule of law (Opinion).  “A big deterrent to foreign investment is the cozy relationship between South Korea’s government and a handful of large domestic companies, including powerful family-controlled chaebol, conglomerates with overlapping ownership.”

James K. Glassman/The Washington Times: https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/jan/6/to-boost-south-koreas-faltering-economy-end-corrup/

 

End of an anti-corruption era in Indonesia (Opinion).  “The revised KPK legislation also now stipulates that its investigators can only be recruited from police ranks, despite a 2015 Constitution Court ruling which gave the KPK authority to appoint its own investigators from other agencies. Often regarded as Indonesia’s most corrupt organization, the police have been at loggerheads with the KPK going back to the early days of the Widodo presidency in 2015…”

John McBeth/The Asia Times: https://www.asiatimes.com/2020/01/article/end-of-an-anti-corruption-era-in-indonesia/?_=4968889

Republic of Korea new agency / 1MDB case settlement / New KickBack podcast

Korea’s ‘super-agency’ may in fact provide a shield for corruption (Opinion).  “Under the new system, all investigative offices…must report to the new anti-corruption investigative agency the moment any signs of wrongdoing by high-ranking official are recognised and transfer the investigation to that office, which is headed by a presidential appointee…This sets up a mechanism to shut off any investigation that the administration might find undesirable for them and in fact provide a shield for corruption.”

Chinhyun Kim/Financial Times: https://www.ft.com/content/7c42a69e-2e19-11ea-a126-99756bd8f45e

 

Goldman Sachs Is in Talks for Asia Unit to Admit Guilt in 1MDB.  “Goldman Sachs Group Inc. is negotiating a settlement of the 1MDB scandal that would include an admission of guilt by one of its subsidiaries instead of the parent company, according to people familiar with the matter… The agreement would also include a fine of almost $2 billion, the people said.”

Sridhar Natarajan and Patricia Hurtado/Bloomberg: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-12-19/goldman-sachs-is-in-talks-for-asia-unit-to-admit-guilt-in-1mdb

 

New Podcast–An End-of-Year Review Featuring Nils Köbis and Christopher Starke (Blog/Podcast).  “Nils and Christopher which recap some of the highlights of our 2019 podcast episodes, highlighting interesting insights, lessons, and thoughts regarding the future of anticorruption research and practice (as well as some reflections on our experiences with our foray into podcasting).”

Matthew Stephenson,Nils Köbis and Christopher Starke/KickBack: The Global Anticorruption Podcast:https://globalanticorruptionblog.com/2020/01/06/new-podcast-an-end-of-year-review-featuring-nils-kobis-and-christopher-starke/

Human rights-anti-corruption converge / Tax transparency and SDGs / Indonesia supervisory council

Compliance Alert: Anti-corruption and human rights efforts will converge in 2020.  “…companies that map their private and public sector relationships — and come to grasp how these relationships intersect — will be far better placed to comprehend and manage legal and reputational issues across jurisdictions.”

Alison Taylor/The FCPA Blog: https://fcpablog.com/2020/01/03/compliance-alert-anti-corruption-and-human-rights-efforts-will-converge-in-2020/

 

How the GRI’s new standard for transparency in reporting tax can help raise money for SDGs.  “More transparency on tax also benefits the companies themselves…By adhering to an independently developed global standard, companies of all types can show leadership, gain recognition for their contributions in markets around the world, and demonstrate the part they’re playing to support sustainable development. This can be a win-win for everyone – companies, communities and global society.”

Tim Mohin/Ethical Corporation: http://www.ethicalcorp.com/how-gris-new-standard-transparency-reporting-tax-can-help-raise-money-sdgs   

 

Backed by new regulation, KPK supervisory council readying for work.  “[Indonesia’s] Corruption Eradication Commission’s (KPK) supervisory council is to soon commence overseeing the country’s leading antigraft agency as President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has signed a regulation mandating the formation of the council’s executive body.

Kharishar Kahfi/The Jakarta Post: https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2020/01/05/backed-by-new-regulation-kpk-supervisory-council-readying-for-work.html

Myanmar corruption complaints / Bangladesh blocked news / India local efforts

Incompetence tops anti-corruption complaints.  “More than half of the complaints sent to the Anti-Corruption Commission in 2019 were about incompetence or mismanagement at government offices…From January to October 2019, the anti-graft body received 8172 complaints, most of them from Yangon Region”

Khin Myat Myat Wai/Myanmar Times: https://www.mmtimes.com/news/incompetence-tops-anti-corruption-complaints.html  

 

Bangladesh blocks news website accusing minister of corruption.  Bangladesh authorities have blocked access to Netra News, a Sweden-based investigative journalism website after it published a report alleging corruption by Obaidul Quader, Bangladesh's minister of road transport and bridges..

Faisal Mahmud/Aljazeera: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/01/bangladesh-blocks-news-website-accusing-minister-corruption-200102172616456.html  

 

‘People should raise voice against corruption’.  “In the past few months, [Anti-Corruption Bureau in Nashik] has taken action against very senior officials when they were found accepting bribes. This has inspired confidence among people that no matter how senior or influential an official is, action will be taken against them.”

Santosh Sonawane/The Times of India: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nashik/people-should-raise-voice-against-corruption/articleshow/73113177.cms

Singapore anti-corruption lessons / China's Tencent response / Bangladesh 2019 synopsis

Singapore plan to beat graft (Opinion).  “My interactions with the republic’s political leaders, senior civil servants and community leaders helped come with up a four-pronged approach that Singapore adopted and which delivered results: Moral leadership; Sustainable remunerations; Strong enforcement; and, Clear governance system and processes.”

Datuk Hasanuddin Mohd Yunus/New Straits Times: https://www.nst.com.my/opinion/letters/2019/12/552087/singapore-plan-beat-graft

 

Chinese social media giant Tencent says it fired more than 60 employees this year for corruption and bribery.  “Tencent Holdings said it fired more than 60 employees for alleged corruption and bribery during the first three quarters of [2019], with 10 of those handed over to Chinese public security and judicial authorities due to violations of the law...Tencent also blacklisted 16 companies involved in such misbehaviour.”

Celia Chen/South China Morning Post: https://www.scmp.com/tech/apps-social/article/3043675/chinese-social-media-giant-tencent-says-it-fired-more-60-employees

 

A synopsis of the battle against corruption in 2019 (Opinion).  “2019 was essentially business as usual in terms of corruption in Bangladesh, as it continued to a be challenge of ever-increasing concern except for two notable features that drew public attention. On the one hand, corruption exposed itself in some unprecedented manner as booties of this illegality in casinos, public procurement and other instances of abuse of politically linked power shocked and awed many observers. On the other hand, for the first time in the country, a high-profile anti-corruption drive was launched by a political party-led government at the initiative of the prime minister…”

Iftekharuzzaman/The Daily Star: https://www.thedailystar.net/opinion/perspective/news/synopsis-the-battle-against-corruption-2019-1847314

Republic of Korea new agency / India CG guidelines / Indonesia investigator attackers

South Korea passes bill to set up anti-corruption agency.  The parliament voted to pass a bill to set up an agency to investigate corruption among high-ranking officials – which is one of President Moon’s biggest election campaign promise, in a bid to reform the country’s judicial system and widespread public distrust of state prosecutors.

Financial Times: https://www.ft.com/content/11b3f736-2aec-11ea-bc77-65e4aa615551

 

RBI to issue guidelines on corporate governance.  “On what could be the broad contours of the guidelines on corporate governance, Shriram Subramanian, founder & MD, InGovern Research, said, “[Reserve Bank of India] is likely to emphasize on transparency of disclosures, avoiding conflict of interest and proper monitoring.”

Financial Express: https://www.financialexpress.com/industry/rbi-to-issue-guidelines-on-corporate-governance/1803528/  

 

Two police officers arrested in connection with acid attack on Indonesian graft investigator.  “Two Indonesian police officers have been arrested in connection with an acid attack on [Novel Baswedan] a senior investigator with the Corruption Eradication Commission that left him partially blinded…[who] has said he believes the attack, while he was walking home from a mosque in April 2017, was connected to graft cases he was handling at the time.”

Channel NewsAsia: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/two-police-officers-arrested-in-connection-with-acid-attack-on-12215764

 

Myanmar ACC achievements / Bhutan-Japan students exchange / China corruption cases

Corruption charges occur in NLD government era.  “[Myanmar’s Anti-Corruption Commission] had a total of 10,543 complaint letters in 2018 and 46 people were charged. It had 9,359 complaint letters till November 2019 and 74 people are charged.

Zaw Min Naing/Eleven Media Group: https://elevenmyanmar.com/news/corruption-charges-occur-in-nld-government-era

 

Student's death reveals dark side of Bhutan-Japan exchange program.  “Students claim Bhutan Employment Overseas — a Bhutanese immigration broker that acted as a recruiter and intermediary for the program — lied about job opportunities and burdened students with enormous debt before sending them to Japan… In July, Bhutanese law enforcement arrested the operators of BEO for alleged corruption and forgery of documents.”

Ryusei Takahashi/The Japan Times: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/12/29/national/students-death-reveals-dark-side-bhutan-japan-exchange-program/#.XgootUf7Q2w

 

China consolidates sweeping victory against corruption in 2019.   “From January to November…organs across the country filed and investigated 555,000 cases, with 485,000 people receiving disciplinary measures within the Party or government agencies, while 19,000 were transferred to procuratorates for criminal investigation. Around 70,800 and 86,400 cases involving corruption and misconduct related to poverty relief and people's wellbeing respectively were handled in the period, with 99,000 and 110,000 people punished”

Xinhua: http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-12/30/c_138667313.htm

Japan casino corruption / Viet Nam ex-communications minister / Iran anti-laundering progress

Eliminate casino corruption (Editorial).  “Given the arrest of the Lower House member over suspected bribery, eliminating corruption involving casino operators bidding for projects in Japan should also be on the agenda before the casino business is actually launched.”

The Japan Times: https://www.aninews.in/news/world/asia/nepali-officials-start-anti-corruption-training-in-india20191216205736/

 

Ex-minister gets life in Vietnam graft case.  A Vietnamese court sentenced Nguyn Bac Son for taking a bribe of US$3 million to orchestrate the 2016 acquisition of a digital television service on behalf of state-owned Mobifone, one of the largest mobile network operators in the country, when he was minister of information and communication.

Bangkok Post: https://www.bangkokpost.com/world/1825449/ex-minister-gets-life-in-vietnam-graft-case

 

Iran has taken significant steps to counter money laundering: fin. min..  “Iranian Finance and Economic Affairs Minister Farhad Dejpasand said on Monday that Iran has taken very effective and practical measures for countering money laundering and cooperation with Financial Action Task Force (FATF).”

Tehran Times: https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/443363/Iran-has-taken-significant-steps-to-counter-money-laundering