Monday, August 31, 2020

Transparency Index review / Indonesia forestry network / Nepal COVID corruption

Collaborative Review Opportunity - ERCAS Transparency Index.  We would like to ask you for support in reviewing the T-index, a de facto measurement of government transparency across 120 countries. To enable peer review, we have made our dataset public and are kindly asking you to take a look at your country/region of expertise and assess if any of the recorded scores does not correspond to the knowledge you have about it. In that case, please make the adequate changes to the dataset (link below). 

Francesco Bono / European Research Centre for Anti-Corruption and State-Building (ERCAS): https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/kja00a0ex3q2enywetljb/T-index-Crowdsourcing.xlsx?dl=0&rlkey=u99qn7udye1uz2f6etkp23j8c

Thank you to Prof. Dr. Alina Mungiu-Pippidi and Débora Araújo, ERCAS, for sharing this opportunity.

 

Corrupt networks in the Indonesian forestry sector (Blog/Research). “The [Social Network Analysis] case study of Pelalawan [in Indonesia] illustrates how corrupt networks reflect the wider organisation of political and economic power within a society and a sector. Analysing a corrupt network in this context is a first step towards understanding its resilience as well as the potential pathways for disrupting its activities.”

Jacqui Baker/U4 Anti-Corruption Resource Centre: https://www.u4.no/publications/corrupt-networks-in-the-indonesian-forestry-sector

 

How govt officials are looting the Covid coffers (Explainer).  “[Narayan Adhikari, Accountability Lab’s Nepal country director] who has been tracking the money spent on the current crisis, added that officials at the federal level responsible for handling Covid-19 response measures have been abusing their authority while awarding contracts to people they know.”

Bhadra Sharma/The Record: https://www.recordnepal.com/category-explainers/how-govt-officials-are-looting-the-covid-coffers/

Friday, August 28, 2020

Investing in women-led businesses / Philippines PhilHealth reforms / ASEAN-PAC successfully concluded

Investing in women-led businesses (Webinar).  As part of UNDP’s webinar series on gender and good corporate governance, this webinar on 2 September 2020 at 11am-12pm (GMT+7) will be an interactive discussion on why we should be investing in women-led businesses, and the role private sector and investors can play in driving gender diversity and closing the gender gap. Please join through the link below.

UNDP: https://undp.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Gevoc2MuTnqVVVK4EiwuWQ

 

Corruption Amid A Pandemic (Opinion). “In the process of addressing corruption in PhilHealth, leaders, and lawmakers of the country need to take cognisance of certain aspects of PhilHealth as a public institution that need to be changed…there’s a need to widen the membership of the PhilHealth board to accommodate other concerned stakeholders who could serve as “watchdogs” on PhilHealth’s affairs and operations.”

Anna Malindog-Uy/The ASEAN Post: https://theaseanpost.com/article/corruption-amid-pandemic

 

16th Secretariat Meeting of the ASEAN Parties Against Corruption (ASEAN-PAC) Successfully Concluded via Video Conference.“Operational-level officers from the ten Southeast Asian anti-corruption agencies gathered online to exchange experience and discuss their progress on anti-corruption efforts…[including a] special session [on] “Anti-corruption efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic: Sharing of Experiences and Best Practices””

Office of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (of Thailand): https://www.nacc.go.th/english/categorydetail/2019122712514151207005112EK12853/20200827153024   

Thank you to Ms.Orawan Phuwatharadol, Office of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (of Thailand), for sharing this news.

Thursday, August 27, 2020

Business collective action / China intensifies campaign / Indonesia AGO fire

Agenda for Business Integrity: Collective Action (Paper).  “After several years of anti-corruption Collective Actions initiatives… there is consensus that Collective Action can take four main forms…Anti-Corruption Declarations…Standard-Setting Initiatives…Capacity-Building Initiatives…[and] Integrity Pacts.”

Gabriel Cecchini/World Economic Forum: http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Agenda_for_Business_Integrity.pdf  

 

Anti-corruption campaign in political and legal systems, heavier blows on way: experts.   “In response to the recent spike of corruption cases, the Committee of Political and Legal Affairs, the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee unveiled a campaign…[which] is expected to be carried out at all levels of political and legal systems from 2021, and complete its mission by the first quarter of 2022”

Fan Anqi and Xu Keyue/Global Times: https://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1198602.shtml

 

Graft suspect's office destroyed in AGO blaze.“A fire that gutted the main building of the [Indonesia’s] Attorney General's Office (AGO) compound…has raised questions over ongoing investigations into high-profile graft cases led by the law enforcement body…[although the] attorney general said no investigations would be interrupted”

Ardila Syakriah/The Jakarta Post: https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2020/08/24/graft-suspects-office-destroyed-in-ago-blaze.html

Thai airways probe / Indonesia 'influencers' procurement / Philippines health crisis

Probe 'points to graft' in THAI A340 aircraft deal.  “Some employees of Thai Airways International (THAI) became unusually rich from a major plane procurement deal struck in 2003-2004… despite the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council objecting to THAI acquiring those type of planes.”

Bangkok Post: https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/1971787/probe-points-to-graft-in-thai-a340-aircraft-deal  

 

Jokowi administration spends Rp 90.4 billion on 'influencers': ICW.  “President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's administration has spent at least Rp 90.4 billion (US$6 million) for digital activities involving so-called influencers since 2017, according to data collected by Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW)…from publicly available goods and services procurement data published on the electronic procurement service system (LPSE).”

Moch. Fiqih Prawira Adjie/The Jakarta Post: https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2020/08/20/jokowi-administration-spends-rp-90-4-billion-on-influencers-icw.html  

 

In Philippines, coronavirus crisis led to massive PhilHealth corruption, whistle-blowers claim.  “As the Philippines battles a coronavirus emergency, the main state agency providing funds for patient care and Covid-19 testing could be bankrupt by next year, according to three whistle-blowers…two of whom recently resigned from the Philippine Health Corporation (PhilHealth)”

Raissa Robles/South China Morning Post: https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3097861/philippines-coronavirus-crisis-led-massive-philhealth   

Malaysia business advice / Corruption and deadly accidents / IACA Summer Academy

Ask ministers to put instructions in writing, says anti-graft body.  “A governance and anti-corruption watchdog has advised heads of companies to safeguard themselves against any unethical instructions from ministers…“If it is wrong, please inform the minister to put it in writing and that you will take it to the board of directors,” he said, referring to Section 17A of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (Amendment) Act 2018.””

Minderjeet Kaur/Free Malaysia Today: https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2020/08/19/ask-ministers-to-put-instructions-in-writing-says-anti-graft-body/

 

Corruption and Deadly Accidents (Blog).  “there are at least two channels through which corruption can increase the likelihood and magnitude of deadly accidents: First, there’s what I’ll call the “direct” channel—parties may use corrupt means to induce regulators to fail to adopt, or fail to enforce, appropriate safety regulations… Second, though, there’s also an “indirect” channel through which corruption can increase the risk of deadly accidents. Corruption can lead to a general degradation in government capacity.”

Matthew Stephenson/The Global Anticorruption Blog: https://globalanticorruptionblog.com/2020/08/11/corruption-and-deadly-accidents/

 

IACA Summer Academy Online (Training). There are still a few places left for the “intensive, interdiscipilinary programme that addresses trends and practices on the global anti-corruption agenda” running from 5-11 September 2020, which targets “professionals from around the world, with a minimum of five years of relevant work experience”.

International Anti-Corruption Academy: https://www.iaca.int/iaca-programmes/open-trainings/summer-academy.html

Monday, August 24, 2020

KPK-UNODC Webinar today / China land transactions / India COVID-19 procurement

TODAY: Webinar Series on United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) Registration.  A webinar on ‘Progress of Whistleblowers Protection in Indonesia: Current Challenges and Way Forward’ will be held on Monday 24 August 2020, 9.00-11.00 Jakarta time. Please register via the link below to join the discussion on Zoom, conducted with Bahasa Indonesia-English simultaneous interpretation.

KPK and UNODC: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdYOUcYBUGmxa55bkuTKLpz9XOpbQIGStu9_F8dJ7cOai49rQ/viewform

 

Has Xi Jinping’s anti-corruption campaign been effective? China’s land transactions provide one answer (Opinion).  “While a study found that firms linked to members of the Politburo enjoyed a sizeable advantage in the land market, it also noted a drop in the level of price discounts on land transactions to such firms after the anti-corruption campaign kicked off."

Ting Chen/South China Morning Post: https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3097830/has-xi-jinpings-anti-corruption-campaign-been-effective-chinas-land

 

Bengal government panel to probe ‘corruption’ in Covid-19 procurement.  “The Mamata Banerjee led administration in West Bengal has ordered a probe into the allegations of corruption in purchasing of medical equipment to fight Covid-19 pandemic in the [Indian] state.”

Hindustan Times: https://www.hindustantimes.com/kolkata/bengal-government-panel-to-probe-corruption-in-covid-19-procurement/story-jcLjXLfQJXBcQXvwkXsnLM.html   

Saturday, August 22, 2020

Pacific Anti-Corruption Updates (22 August 2020): PNG, Fiji

New Zealand Boost Anti-Corruption Efforts In The Pacific. A new Pacific-wide anti-corruption partnership has been launched between the Government of New Zealand and the United Nations Pacific Regional Anti-Corruption (UN-PRAC) Project, in an effort to improve the livelihoods of people in 13 Pacific Island countries.

https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO2008/S00166/new-zealand-boost-anti-corruption-efforts-in-the-pacific.htm

 

PNG:

PNG’s ex-PM Peter O’Neill buys $6m Warrawee house as Point Piper digs quietly sold. Mr O’Neill returned from Sydney to PNG in May to give evidence at a corruption inquiry into the UBS loan affair in which the country’s leaders are accused of breaking the law in 2014 in approving a $US1.2 billion load from the Swiss bank.

https://www.domain.com.au/news/pngs-ex-pm-peter-oneill-buys-6m-warrawee-house-as-point-piper-digs-quietly-sold-979246/

Bougainville finance minister to face corruption trial. Bougainville's caretaker Finance Minister Robin Wilson is to stand trial in the Papua New Guinea National Court on four charges of corruption.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/423786/bougainville-finance-minister-to-face-corruption-trial

 

FIJI :

Corruption lands former CWM hospital staff in jail. A former employee of CWM hospital who admitted to falsifying a receipt and causing a loss of $54.40 to the hospital was sentenced to 10 months imprisonment by the Suva Magistrates Court this week.

https://www.fijitimes.com/corruption-lands-former-cwm-hospital-staff-in-jail/

Mahogany ‘history isn’t all pretty’. The history of Fiji’s mahogany is scarred by corruption, says Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama.

https://www.fijitimes.com/mahogany-history-isnt-all-pretty/

More people conned in land scam. The Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) said more than 80 people had so far been fooled, claiming $150,000 was deceptively obtained.

https://fijisun.com.fj/2020/08/16/more-people-conned-in-land-scam/

 

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

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

Friday, August 21, 2020

Myanmar business handbook / Digital ID Framework / Thailand hosts ASEAN-PAC

Myanmar launches handbook to help firms combat corruption.  “The document, available in English and Myanmar language, aims to provide guidance for businesses in Myanmar to support their anti-graft programmes, drawing on inspiration from examples in Myanmar and elsewhere. It is structure around the eight principles for companies to take action to combat corruption issued by the [Anti-Corruption Commission].”

Kyaw Soe Htet/Myanmar Times: https://www.mmtimes.com/news/myanmar-launches-handbook-help-firms-combat-corruption.html

 

An Evaluation Framework for Digital ID (Blog).  “National Digital ID programmes are being deployed worldwide to facilitate inclusion of marginalised communities, and ensure more effective and open governance through efficient delivery of government services and welfare measures, reduced corruption...[but] it is critical to adopt a rights-based approach and incorporate safeguards during their development and implementation.”

Yesha Tshering Paul/Open Government Partnership: https://www.opengovpartnership.org/stories/an-evaluation-framework-for-digital-id/

 

NACC is Hosting 16th ASEAN Parties Against Corruption (ASEAN-PAC) Secretariat Meeting in Bangkok.  “The [National Anti-Corruption Commission] Thailand will be hosting the 16th ASEAN-PAC Secretariat Meeting on 24 August 2020 via VIDEO Conference platform. The meeting provides a platform for the ten Southeast Asian anti-corruption agencies to exchange information and experience on regional anti-corruption efforts and to contribute to the sustainable economic and social development of the ASEAN region by tackling corruption”

NACC: https://www.nacc.go.th/english/categorydetail/2019122712514151207005112EK12853/20200820142009  

Thank you to Ms. Orawan Phuwatharadol, Office of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (of Thailand), for sharing this news.

Thursday, August 20, 2020

India courts accountability / China debt industry / 1MDB settlement signed

A people’s court must be open to public accountability (Opinion).  “A people’s court will naturally receive feedback, if not criticism, from the very people it claims to govern. If the Indian judiciary wishes to remain a public governance institution, it must embrace some rules of public accountability that it has long enforced on other institutions of governance in the country.”

Shruti Rajagopalan/Mint: https://www.livemint.com/opinion/columns/a-people-s-court-must-be-open-to-public-accountability-11597676376770.html

 

Implicit Corruption in the Chinese Consumer Debt Industry? A Close Look at Recent Evidence (Blog).  “The paper [by Sumit Agarwal, Wenlan Qian, Amit Seru, and Jian Zhang], entitled “Disguised Corruption: Evidence from Consumer Credit in China,” presents quantitative evidence of an implicit quid pro quo between a large Chinese bank and government officials who wield regulatory authority over the bank.”

Haggai Porat/The Global Anticorruption Blog: https://globalanticorruptionblog.com/2020/08/17/implicit-corruption-in-the-chinese-consumer-debt-industry-a-close-look-at-recent-evidence/

 

Goldman Sachs, Malaysia sign off on US$3.9 billion 1MDB settlement.  “Goldman Sachs and Malaysia have signed an agreement finalising the US bank's US$3.9 billion settlement over the 1MDB scandal…Both parties announced the settlement last month, but the formal signing of the agreement - disclosed by Goldman in a regulatory filing in New York on Tuesday (Aug 18) - completes the process.”

Channel News Asia: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/1mdb-goldman-sachs-malaysia-us-3-9-billion-najib-wall-street-13033892

Wednesday, August 19, 2020

Global procurement survey / Indonesia (anti)corruption recap / Beneficial ownership tech

Global survey highlights challenges and opportunities for public procurement during the Covid-19 pandemic (Blog).  “Some initial findings on the challenges and reform opportunities for public procurement during the Covid-19 pandemic include: Countries most affected by Covid-19 adopted a larger percentage of critical and risky procedures for emergency public procurement.”

Serena Cocciolo, Vincenzo di Maro, and Sushmita Samaddar/World Bank: https://blogs.worldbank.org/governance/global-survey-highlights-challenges-and-opportunities-public-procurement-during-covid-19

 

75 years on, Indonesia grapples with entrenched corruption.  “Corruption remains an intractable issue to resolve in Indonesia 75 years after the country became independent…Recent pollsters also said that Indonesians were growing more permissive toward petty corruption, a trend experts fear could motivate major acts of corruption.”

Galih Gumelar/The Jakarta Post: https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2020/08/17/75-years-on-indonesia-grapples-with-entrenched-corruption.html  

 

Open Ownership’s first technology showcase (Blog/Video).  “The showcase [of technology working with beneficial ownership data] also demonstrated…how interconnected open data, government digital transformation, and non-governmental innovation are in solving transparency and corruption problems.”

Steve Day/Open Ownership: https://www.openownership.org/blogs/first-tech-showcase/

Tuesday, August 18, 2020

Malaysia politicized cases / India court allegation / Viet Nam Integrity School

Cause for contempt of Malaysia’s politicized courts (Opinion). “Coming so closely after Najib’s guilty verdict, the charges against Lim may boost Muhyiddin’s image as a fair and just leader…[and] may also appease some of the Malay nationalists who were upset after [the former finance minister] Lim’s previous corruption charges were dropped in 2018,”

Nile Bowie: https://asiatimes.com/2020/08/cause-for-contempt-of-malaysias-politicized-courts/?mc_cid=6e9e54fc82&mc_eid=15da50ad12

 

Bhushan releases details of graft charges.  Indian Advocate Prashant Bhushan has contended that corruption in the judiciary does not mean monetary gratification alone but includes other offences such as fraud, abuse of discretion and favouritism, and that alleging graft cannot be contempt of court “per se”.

The Telegraph: https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/prashant-bhushan-releases-details-of-graft-charges/cid/1789286  

 

Integrity: an answer to corruption (Blog). “The Vietnam Integrity School helps fill these gaps in knowledge and serves as an incubator for young Vietnamese leaders, who will become promising game changers in the fight against corruption in Vietnam."

Quynh Tong/Transparency International: https://www.transparency.org/en/blog/integrity-an-answer-to-corruption

Myanmar economic future / India tax portal / Singapore procurement bribe

Myanmar needs to reimagine its economic future.  “Myanmar’s most fundamental challenge is creating a stronger state at a time when most people, because of long years of oppression and corruption, want only to see the back of state institutions.

Thant Myint-U/Frontier Myanmar: https://www.frontiermyanmar.net/en/myanmar-needs-to-reimagine-its-economic-future/   

 

PM Modi launches ‘Transparent Taxation’ portal, a new faceless tax system.  “Industry captains and experts welcomed the initiative, saying it will minimise grey areas, eliminate discretion, and promote transparency and certainty. The move will help make India a competitive economy amid a changing global order by improving ease of doing business, while instilling confidence among Indian industry, they said.”

Economic Times: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/policy/pm-modi-launches-transparent-taxation-portal-a-new-faceless-tax-system/articleshow/77520902.cms

 

Siblings found guilty of offences involving $2.2 million in bribes.  “Two Singaporean siblings conspired to secure tenders for two companies in China in exchange for bribes amounting to about [approx. US$1.6 mil]...Teo used his position in the company and also his position as a member of the committee awarding the tenders to obtain confidential information belonging to Seagate."

Dominic Low/The Straits Times: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/siblings-found-guilty-of-offences-involving-22-million-in-bribes

Pacific Anti-Corruption Updates (15 August 2020): PNG, Kiribati

PNG:

PNG electoral commissioner back in custody. It's the second time police have arrested Gamato for bail infringement since he was arrested and charged for official corruption last October.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/423495/png-electoral-commissioner-back-in-custody

PNG-Australia Relations Back on Track. The level of corruption in PNG has become a national security issue.

https://postcourier.com.pg/png-australia-relations-back-on-track/

PNG Police charge alleged cocaine pilot under Pandemic Act 2020 says Manning. He said additional charges will be laid under the Criminal Code Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing act as police continue investigations.

https://news.pngfacts.com/2020/08/png-police-charge-alleged-cocaine-pilot.html

 

KIRIBATI:

Kiribati's president's plans to raise islands in fight against sea-level rise. The election was rife with accusations of corruption from both sides: all of which have been denied. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/10/kiribatis-presidents-plans-to-raise-islands-in-fight-against-sea-level-rise

 

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

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

Friday, August 14, 2020

Myanmar construction sector / Afghanistan virtual training / Thailand budget approval

State Counsellor promises to continue support construction sector.  “U Barat Singh, Deputy Minister for Investment and Foreign Economic Relations, met with the Myanmar Construction Entrepreneurs Association to discuss a new tender system for the construction sector that is both fair and transparent. “The current system lacks transparency and corruption exists in the form of bribes and other means,” said U Tun Tun, a representative from the association who attended the meeting”

Yee Ywal Myint/Myanmar Times: https://www.mmtimes.com/news/state-counsellor-promises-continue-supporting-construction-sector.html  

 

UNDP continues to train virtually with COVID-19 precautions.  “UNDP Afghanistan provided a 3-day virtual training…for judges and prosecutors of the Afghanistan Anti-Corruption Justice Centre (ACJC) to strengthen their capacity to address corruption cases…on the topic of “Expert Witness and Expert Evidence””

UNDP in Afghanistan: https://www.af.undp.org/content/afghanistan/en/home/presscenter/articles/2020/TrainVirtuallywithCOVID-19Precautions.html

 

Probe into sub-panel 'graft' on cards.  “Mr Sira [Jenjaka, the chairman of the House committee on laws, justice and human rights] said he will call for a committee vote on…whether a probe should be conducted into the allegations the MPs demanded a bribe of 5 million baht [approx. US$160,000] in return for passing a budget allocation earmarked for a groundwater pump project.”

Bangkok Post: https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/politics/1967247/probe-into-sub-panel-graft-on-cards  

Thursday, August 13, 2020

FCPA intermediaries risk / Bangladesh health sector / Afghanistan financial institutions

At Large: Are agents ever ‘legal’ under the FCPA? (Blog).  “There may be times and places when agents serve an important purpose. But anyone looking at the FCPA corporate enforcement record can see that intermediaries bring with them alarming compliance risks.”

Richard L. Cassin/The FCPA Blog: https://fcpablog.com/2020/08/06/at-large-are-agents-ever-legal-under-the-fcpa/  

 

Accountability, strict monitoring imperative to fight corruption in health sector “[Lawyer and environmental Syeda Rezwana Hasan] suggested a civil society platform be formed to act as a watchdog for curbing irregularities in the health sector, thus, improving its treatment facilities.”

Dhaka Tribune: https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2020/08/08/accountability-strict-monitoring-imperative-to-fight-corruption-in-health-sector

 

‘Corruption reaches new high in Afghan govt’s financial institutions’.  “In the area of implementing the law, the Anti-Corruption Criminal Justice Center has failed to apply its commitments to combat corruption,” said Maiwand Rouhani, the head of the secretariat of the Independent Joint Anti-Corruption Monitoring and Evaluation Committee (MEC).”

South Asia Monitor: https://southasiamonitor.org/afghanistan/corruption-reaches-new-high-afghan-govts-financial-institutions

Anti-bribery ISO adoption / 1MDB legal costs / Indonesia FDI attraction

Developing a Management Standard to Prevent Bribery: ISO 37001 Offers a New Approach, 2012 – 2019 (Resource/Publication). “Initially, adoption [of the international antibribery management system standard] was slow for three main reasons: companies were focusing their attention on compliance with applicable national laws; introduction of the new standard would demand significant amounts of management time; and final certification would require costly review by an independent third party. A high-profile bribery scandal at one of the first certified companies also raised credibility concerns.”

Tyler McBrien/Princeton University: https://successfulsocieties.princeton.edu/publications/developing-management-standard-prevent-bribery-iso-37001-offers-new-approach-2012-%E2%80%93  

 

Goldman Sachs cuts quarterly earnings, citing legal provisions relating to the 1MDB scandal. “The bank said in a filing it had set aside US$2.96 billion for potential legal and regulatory costs, up from the US$945 million announced on July 15 with its second-quarter earnings.”

CNBC: https://www.cnbc.com/2020/08/07/goldman-sachs-cuts-earnings-citing-provisions-relating-to-the-1mdb-scandal.html

 

Strong pandemic response, corruption eradication needed to attract investment: Experts.  “[Corruption] is the most concerning issue that we face in attracting investment, especially foreign direct investment,” said [Fadhil Hasan, a senior economist at the Institute for Development of Economics and Finance]”.

Dzulfiqar Fathur Rahman/The Jakarta Post: https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2020/08/06/strong-pandemic-response-corruption-eradication-needed-to-attract-investment-experts.html

Malaysia finance minister / Philippines health mismanagement / Japan corporate governance

Malaysia’s ex-finance minister Lim Guan Eng arrested on corruption charges linked to RM6.3b Penang undersea tunnel.  “Malaysia's former finance minister Lim Guan Eng was arrested by the country's anti-graft bod…following weeks of a probe into an RM6.3 billion [approx. US$ 1.5 billion] undersea tunnel project that was green-lit during his tenure as Penang chief minister.”

Ram Anand/The Straits Times: https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/ex-finance-minister-lim-guan-eng-arrested-by-malaysias-anti-graft-body

 

Top PhilHealth exec resigns as corruption allegations hound agency.  Brig. Gen. Augustus de Villa, “[a] top official of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) resigned as the agency is hounded by fresh allegations of corruption…[involving] the procurement of alleged overpriced IT equipment; a supposedly questionable release of funds under the corporation’s Interim Reimbursement Mechanism (IRM); and the alleged manipulation of the corporation’s financial status.”

Christia Marie Ramos/Inquirer.net: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1317684/top-philhealth-exec-resigns-as-corruption-allegations-hound-agency

 

Japan: effective governance for a swifter recovery.  “The Covid-19 crisis…has exposed companies living on the edge; while those companies that have embedded good governance in the form of strong financial stewardship, sound employment practices and effective supply chain management have been able to sustain profitability and, most importantly, recover quicker.”

Hisashi Arakawa/New Statesman: https://www.newstatesman.com/spotlight/investment/2020/08/japan-effective-governance-swifter-recovery

Pakistan critics detention / Malaysia premature celebration / No panacea cliche

Pakistan: End Anti-Corruption Agency’s Abuses (Statement). “Pakistani authorities should follow up a recent Supreme Court decision and cease using the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to detain critics of the government, Human Rights Watch said…The authorities should investigate and prosecute NAB officials responsible for unlawful arrests and other abuses.

Human Rights Watch: https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/08/06/pakistan-end-anti-corruption-agencys-abuses   

 

It is way too early to celebrate Najib's historic corruption sentence (Opinion). “On the face of it, last week's guilty verdict against former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak is a victory for clean government everywhere…[but] Najib's decision to appeal -- as is his right -- has raised fears that his convictions could be overturned, especially with so many of his political allies returning to power earlier this year.”

Binaifer Nowrojee/Nikkei Asian Review: https://asia.nikkei.com/Opinion/It-is-way-too-early-to-celebrate-Najib-s-historic-corruption-sentence

 

There’s No Panacea for Corruption. So We Can All Stop Pointing That Out (Blog). “Since we all agree (or should agree) that there is no panacea for corruption, we probably don’t need to keep saying that any individual measure is not a panacea. Of course it isn’t. There isn’t one. Done."

Matthew Stephenson/The Global Anticorruption Blog: https://globalanticorruptionblog.com/2020/08/04/theres-no-panacea-for-corruption-so-we-can-all-stop-pointing-that-out/

Pacific Anti-Corruption Updates (8 August 2020): PNG, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu

PNG:

For all Marape’s achievements in PNG, the biggest challenges await.  Beyond the increase in Covid-19 cases and the effect the virus is having on lives and livelihoods, the government has overcome a court challenge to the election of Prime Minister James Marape and has undertaken some significant law reforms on the mining and anti-corruption fronts.

https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/all-marape-s-achievements-png-biggest-challenges-await

 

 

FIJI:

Former Fiji Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Services employee pleads guilty to corruption related charges.  A former temporary relieving packer with the Fiji Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Services has pleaded guilty to causing the Ministry of Health a loss of $4,050.45 in the Suva Magistrates Court

https://www.fijivillage.com/news/Former-Fiji-Pharmaceutical-and-Biomedical-Services-employee-pleads-guilty-to-corruption-related-charges-5rf48x/

 

 

SOLOMON ISLANDS:

Kuma hits back at TSI.  The Minister for Finance and Treasury (MoFT) Harry Kuma has described the media article published by the Transparency Solomon Islands (TSI), as factually incorrect, malicious, and unbecoming of an organization that promotes itself as the beacon of transparency

http://solomonstarnews.com/index.php/news/national/item/23915-kuma-hits-back-at-tsi

 

VANUATU:

Former Vanuatu PM confident of beating corruption charges.  The lawyer for former Vanuatu prime minister Charlot Salwai says his client is confident of winning a corruption trial in the Supreme Court.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/422849/former-vanuatu-pm-confident-of-beating-corruption-charges

 

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

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

Malaysia business integrity / Indonesia new regulation / Anti-corruption and climate action

Activist calls for integrity unit to fight business corruption.  “An Integrity and Governance Unit should be set up to combat corruption and other malpractices in the private sector…to improve existing policies and systems, and monitor enforcement and awareness programmes, said Akhbar Satar (the president of the Malaysia Association of Certified Fraud Examiners).”

Free Malaysia Today: https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2020/08/03/activist-calls-for-integrity-unit-to-fight-business-corruption/  

 

Deterring corruption (Editorial). With the Indonesian Supreme Court Regulation No.1/2020 stipulating that corruption convicts inflicting at least Rp 100 billion (US$6.88 million) in losses to the tate can be sentenced to life, “the public now has a strong basis for filing reports with the Judicial Commission against judges who they think have defied a sense of justice in handling a graft case”

The Jakarta Post: https://www.thejakartapost.com/academia/2020/08/06/deterring-corruption.html

 

Strong Institutions Are Essential for Effective Climate Action.  “Climate action and sustainable development need strong and functioning institutions in order to be effective…[and] institutions need a coordinated approach to tackling corruption to prevent climate action from being undermined.”

UN Climate Change: https://unfccc.int/news/strong-institutions-are-essential-for-effective-climate-action?fbclid=IwAR1HEhEsXw8KjHkjKmqIY4GoAthuSHEpI9TjwjS8KfcGoSyeTcu29uH10Es

Malaysia Najib's lawyer / Pakistan journalist killing / IMF experiment commentary

Malaysian lawyer faces money laundering charges involving $4.9m cheques from Najib.  “Lawyer Mohd Hafarizam Harun [a legal adviser for Umno who had represented Najib in multiple court cases]…claimed trial to three money laundering charges for receiving RM15 million (S$4.9 million) in illicit funds from former premier Najib Razak in 2014 and 2015.”

The Straits Times: https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/lawyer-faces-money-laundering-charges-involving-s49-mil-cheques-from-najib

 

Killing of Pakistani anti-corruption journalist sparks protests.  “The murder of [Anwar jan Kethran,] a reporter known for exposing corruption has set off a wave of protests across Pakistan’s western Balochistan province, one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a journalist.”

Shah Meer Baloch and Emma Graham-Harrison/The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/03/killing-pakistani-anti-corruption-journalist-protests-anwar-jan

 

The IMF’s Grand Anti-Corruption Experiment (Blog).  “The IMF’s new approach frames corruption as an economic problem that staff must systematically assess, discuss, and address if it is distorting the economy. It is a grand experiment in the ability to pursue anti-corruption reform even in the absence of a government’s political will.

Sarah Saadoun/Human Rights Watch: https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2020/07/26/jobs-bill-puts-spotlight-on-graft-in-natural-resources-sector-in-indonesia.html

Malaysia private sector / Indonesia life sentence / Southeast Asia startup ecosystem

Fighting private sector corruption (Opinion).  “The [Malaysian] Association of Certified Fraud Examiner (ACFE), in its Report to Nations 2020, stated that any corporates that did not practise a culture of anti-corruption and integrity could suffer losses of up to 5% of their profits.”

Seri Akhbar Satar/The Star: https://www.thestar.com.my/opinion/letters/2020/08/04/fighting-private-sector-corruption

 

Supreme Court Encourages Judges to Deliver Life Sentence in Major Graft Cases.  “The [Indonesian] Supreme Court has issued a regulation encouraging judges to deliver a life sentence against any graft convict who has inflicted a loss of more than Rp 100 billion [approx.  US$6.9 mil] to the state.

Fana Suparman/Jakarta Globe: https://jakartaglobe.id/news/supreme-court-encourages-judges-to-deliver-life-sentence-in-major-graft-cases

 

Southeast Asia and Latin America’s startup ecosystems are more similar than you think (Blog).  “Southeast Asia and Latin America still face complex challenges like logistics, security, financial inclusion, corruption, and pollution, that traditional players have not yet solved. These similarities show why Chinese and Japanese investors are becoming more interested in Latin American companies, many of which are local versions of successful Asian startups.”

Nathan Lustig/The Next Web: https://thenextweb.com/growth-quarters/2020/08/04/southeast-asia-and-latin-americas-startup-ecosystems-are-more-similar-than-you-think/

India godmen loophole / Godmen-politicians alliance / Indonesia overseas fugitive

Godmen or Conmen? How India’s Religious Trust Laws Facilitate Money Laundering Empires (Blog).  “One of the most common functions that godmen [charismatic religious leaders] perform in the illicit economy is the conversion of so-called “black money”…into “white money”…in exchange for a hefty fee. Godmen are able to get away with this due to unfortunate features of India’s religious trust laws, which are opaque and riddled with loopholes, and leave religious trusts largely unchecked and unsupervised.”

Disha Verma/The Global Anticorruption Blog: https://globalanticorruptionblog.com/2020/07/22/godmen-or-conmen-how-indias-religious-trust-laws-facilitate-money-laundering-empires/

 

Unholy Alliance: How and Why India’s Politicians Protect India’s Corrupt Godmen (Blog).  “The politicians provide the godmen with political favors, special privileges...[and] the preservation of the system of legal loopholes and minimal oversight that enables the godmen to amass their fortunes. In return, godmen provide politicians with…services [such as]…[using] their religious trusts to facilitate illegal campaign financing…[laundering] money stolen while in office…[offering] politicians captive vote banks”

Disha Verma/The Global Anticorruption Blog: https://globalanticorruptionblog.com/2020/07/24/unholy-alliance-how-and-why-indias-politicians-protect-indias-corrupt-godmen/

 

Indonesia brings graft fugitive Djoko Tjandra back from Malaysia.  “The National Police have brought Djoko Soegiarto Tjandra, a fugitive and graft convict [for his involvement in the high-profile Bank Bali corruption case] who had been on the run for 11 years, back to Indonesia after arresting him in Malaysia”

Moch. Fiqih Prawira Adjie and Dyaning Pangestika/The Jakarta Post: https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2020/07/31/indonesia-brings-graft-fugitive-djoko-tjandra-back-from-malaysia-1596191403.html

Monday, August 3, 2020

Social norms resources / EITI evolution-future / Good governance for recovery

Orders from Above: Curated Resources Exploring Social Norms and Public Authorities (Blog). “[Here is] a subset of the key resources…specifically those at the intersection of corruption, social norms, and public authorities…delving into related fields of social norms theory, public administration, and organizational behavior.”

Cori Simmons/Tufts University: https://sites.tufts.edu/ihs/orders-from-above-curated-resources-exploring-social-norms-and-public-authorities/

 

The evolution of the EITI and next steps for tackling extractive industries corruption (Blog). “What participatory efforts like [Multi-Stakeholder Groups (MSGs)] can miss…is an intentional focus on accountability mechanisms…Now, it is time to test new strategies by developing country-adapted and evidence-informed strategies to address corruption”

Kelsey Landau and Victoria Bassetti/The Brookings Institution: https://www.brookings.edu/blog/up-front/2020/07/30/the-evolution-of-the-eiti-and-next-steps-for-tackling-extractive-industries-corruption/

 

‘HR, good governance key to COVID-19 recovery in SEA’. “Upholding human rights and good governance will be critical for Southeast Asia, including the Philippines, to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, the United Nations said"

Pia Lee-Brago/The Philippine Star: https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/07/31/2031890/hr-good-governance-key-covid-19-recovery-sea

Sunday, August 2, 2020

Pacific Anti-Corruption Updates (31 July 2020): PNG, Fiji, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands

Pacific islands: The cost to tomorrow of the crisis today Today, young Pacific Islanders are increasing their demands to be heard on political issues, and they are impatient and frustrated with corruption and cronyism in structures of power and leadership. 

  

PNG:  

  

Party aims to work closely with the young generation Leaders in the 2000 have taken our nation away from the visions of becoming rich in our own nations, which want to bring back in the right path, they have brought us on a road that has led to greed, corruption, awarding of huge amount of money contracts with lesser costs and nepotism. 

  

FIJI:  

 

Landowner fronts court for alleged corruption A landowner who was allegedly engaged in corrupt practices appeared in the Nausori Magistrates Court. 

  

Former FSC team leader charged A former Fiji Sugar Corporation Team Leader was produced in the Labasa Magistrates Court yesterday on allegations of corrupt practice. 

  

Man charged for obtaining money by deception A man was produced in the Labasa Magistrates Court yesterday on a corruption related charge. 

  

VANUATU:  

 

Vanuatu Opposition calls for explanation from President on pardons The Opposition Leader in Vanuatu is calling on the president of the republic to explain why he pardoned nine former MPs serving time for corruption and conspiracy. 

  

SOLOMON ISLANDS:  

 

The small Pacific islands at the center of a big power play Days before Solomon Islands switched diplomatic allegiance from Taiwan to China last year, Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare declared his erstwhile partner “completely useless to us” as he went on to embrace Beijing in a process marred by corruption allegations. 

 

 

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

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