Republic of Korea new investigation office / Cambodia court political influence / Bangladesh corruption stalls trade

South Korea’s New Corruption Investigation Office Needs Independent Prosecutorial Power (Blog).  “The Corruption Investigation Office for High Ranking Officials (CIO)…can investigate certain crimes, such as bribery and embezzlement, related to the duties of current and retired high-ranking public officials… There is, however, a significant problem with this new system, one that will likely impede the CIO’s ability to hold high-level politicians and their cronies accountable: The CIO lacks the power to prosecute most of the cases it investigates.”

Vincent Wu/The Global Anticorruption Blog: https://globalanticorruptionblog.com/2021/05/24/south-koreas-new-corruption-investigation-office-needs-independent-prosecutorial-power/  

 

Cambodian Courts Show Pattern of Political Influence, Double Standards of Justice.  “Cambodia’s constitution provides for an independent judiciary, the U.S. State Department noted in an annual report released this year on human rights practices around the world in 2020. “But the government did not respect judicial independence, exerting extensive control over the courts… Corruption among judges, prosecutors, and court officials was widespread,” the State Department added.”

Radio Free Asia: https://www.rfa.org/english/news/cambodia/justice-05212021193839.html   

 

Corruption, bureaucracy impede growth of bilateral trade with US.  “Addressing a discussion on the “US-Bangladesh Economic Relation: Migration to a developing nation”…[speakers] said although the two way trade between the two countries rose to $9.0 billion in 2019, it is much lower than the growth of trade between the US and some other Asian countries…Weak infrastructures, corruption, tax system and depending on single apparel items are mainly responsible for the slow growth of trade between the two countries… said A Gafur, Director of Abdul Monem Economic Zone (AMEZ) Ltd. ”

The Financial Express: https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/economy/corruption-bureaucracy-impede-growth-of-bilateral-trade-with-us-1621774248