Indonesia corrupt contractor / India economic offender / Chinese fugitives returned

Corruption court issues historic guilty ruling against NKE.  In an unprecedented move, the Jakarta Corruption Court has declared publicly listed construction company PT Duta Graha Indah (DGI) – now PT Nusa Konstruksi Enjiniring (NKE) – guilty in a graft case involving several construction projects, including a state university hospital in Bali and the Jakabaring Athletes Village, upgraded for the 2018 Asian Games, in Palembang, South Sumatra.

Ivany Atina Arbi/The Jakarta Post: https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2019/01/04/corruption-court-issues-historic-guilty-ruling-against-nke.html

 

Mallya declared fugitive economic offender; hearing on confiscating properties on Feb 5.  Indian liquor baron Vijay Mallya was declared a fugitive economic offender by a special court under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, becoming the first person to be declared so under the new law.

ANI: https://www.aninews.in/news/national/general-news/mallya-declared-fugitive-economic-offender-hearing-on-confiscating-properties-on-feb-5201901051720100001/

 

Nearly 5,000 fugitives netted in China's global anti-corruption manhunt.  China's global anti-corruption manhunt saw the return of 4,997 fugitives from more than 120 countries and regions between 2014 and Nov. 30, 2018, latest official figures showed.

Xinhua: http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-01/06/c_137724114.htm

Nepal Airbus case / Philippines judicial clean-up / India fights sextortion

Nepal's minister, bureaucrats indicted by par committee of graft in Airbus deal.  Nepal's USD 209.6-million Airbus deal, the largest ever in the country's aviation history, is turning out to be one of the biggest corruption scandals in the country as a parliamentary committee indicted a top minister and some senior bureaucrats of graft in the deal.

Business Standard: https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/nepal-s-minister-bureaucrats-indicted-by-par-committee-of-graft-in-airbus-deal-119010300784_1.html

 

Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin orders purge of corrupt in judiciary.  The Chief Justice said he has set the anti-corruption campaign as one of the priorities in his one-year tenure in the top judicial post and vowed to “institutionalize changes that are designed to expedite the administration of justice.”

Edu Punay/The Philippine Star: https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2019/01/02/1881617/chief-justice-lucas-bersamin-orders-purge-corrupt-judiciary

 

India’s Futile Attempt to Root Out Sextortion Through Anticorruption Legislation (Blog).  “…by implicitly treating sextortion as essentially the same as the extortion of monetary bribes, the Amendment will do little to combat sextortion as a form of corruption, and in fact is likely to do more harm than good.”

Victoriya Levina/The Global Anticorruption Blog: https://globalanticorruptionblog.com/2019/01/04/indias-futile-attempt-to-root-out-sextortion-through-anticorruption-legislation/

Pacific Anti-Corruption Updates (5 Jan 2019): PNG, Kiribati, Samoa, Fiji

When the world discovered the Pacific: 2018 politics review. 

https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/378798/when-the-world-discovered-the-pacific-2018-politics-review

 

PNG:

APEC corruption allegations unlikely to amount to anything – Transparency.  Transparency International is doubtful anything concrete will come of corruption allegations against the Papua New Guinea government's excesses in hosting APEC last month.

https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/378796/apec-corruption-allegations-unlikely-to-amount-to-anything-transparency

Young political activist rises.  Hercules Jim is a youth leader and a spokesperson who advocates against corruption and fights for a free and fair Papua New Guinea where everyone will be seen and treated as equals. He is known by many in the country and the region.

https://www.thenational.com.pg/young-political-activist-rises/

 

KIRIBATI:

Victims' families of Kiribati ferry disaster mull legal action.  A Kiribati NGO representing families of the victims of the Butiraoi ferry disaster says it could launch legal action against the government.

https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/378914/victims-families-of-kiribati-ferry-disaster-mull-legal-action

 

SAMOA:

Govt. urged to develop whistle blower law.  The Public Service Commission has urged the Government to develop whistleblower legislation that was enacted in 2014. 

http://sobserver.ws/en/30_12_2018/local/39759/Govt-urged-to-develop-whistle-blower-law.htm

Samoan Govt. could lose E.U. funding if tax woes not addressed. The Delegation of the European Union (E.U.) warned Samoa could lose out on funding if it still exists in the blacklist of “non-cooperative tax jurisdictions”. 

http://www.sobserver.ws/en/22_12_2018/local/39597/Samoan-Govt-could-lose-EU-funding-if-tax-woes-not-addressed.htm

 

FIJI:

Fiji opposition leader Rabuka says court’s election petition decision 'deeply disappointing'.  Fiji's opposition parties have issued a statement explaining why they withdrew an election petition in the Court of Disputed Returns.

https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/378794/fiji-opposition-leader-rabuka-says-court-s-election-petition-decision-deeply-disappointing

Probe on alleged corruption completed. Internal investigations on alleged corrupt practices over the Lagilagi Housing Project have been completed.

https://www.fijitimes.com/probe-on-alleged-corruption-completed/

$4 Million Thief Katia Gets 23 Years. Viliame Katia will spend 23 years in jail for corrupt-related offences, following a judgement made by High Court judge Justice Salesi Temo.

http://fijisun.com.fj/2018/12/29/4-million-thief-katia-gets-23-years/

 

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

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

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

Malaysia PM wish / China 2018 report / Pakistan PM's challenges

Mahathir's New Year wish: Wipe out corruption.  The Malaysian PM says making country 'clean' is very important mission for his government, as the previous government collapsed due to corruption and abuse of power.

The Straits Times: https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/mahathirs-new-year-wish-wipe-out-corruption

 

No let-up for corrupt ‘tigers’ in 2018 as China’s graft-busters claim more big scalps.  “…while there seems to have been no let-up in the campaign, the year’s tally does not indicate the party watchdog and prosecutors went after more senior scalps in 2018 – many of the cases prosecuted were the result of lengthy investigations carried out over previous years.”

William Zheng/South China Morning Post: https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/2180294/no-let-corrupt-tigers-2018-chinas-graft-busters-claim-more-big

 

Challenges galore for Imran (Editorial).  “Fight against corruption and corrupt politicians, hardline religious groups, dwindling economy and a face-off with United States President Donald Trump on the issue of war against terrorism were some of the major issues facing [Pakistan PM] Imran, who rolled up his sleeves to put up a brave face and tackle them head-on.”

Ashfaq Ahmed/Gulf News: https://gulfnews.com/world/asia/pakistan/challenges-galore-for-imran-1.61161262

Malaysia ex-Cabinet aide / Thailand impeachment drive / Philippines mayor jailed

Former special aide of ex-Cabinet minister jailed, fined for graft.  ZailanJauhari, a former special officer to a Malaysian ex-Cabinet minister was sentenced to two years' jail and fined RM400,000 (US$96,300), in default a year's jail, by the Sessions Court here for corruption involving RM80,000 (US$19,250).

The Star: https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2018/12/27/former-special-aide-of-ex-cabinet-minister-jailed-fined-for-graft/

 

Fury over watch scandal ruling prompts impeachment drive.  Srisuwan Janya, an activist said he would collect 20,000 signatures to bring an independent impeachment action against the five members of the Thai National Anti-Corruption Commission who voted that Gen. Prawit Wongsuwan, the deputy prime minister,did nothing wrong by failing to declare 22 ultra-luxury watches.

Pravit Rojanaphruk/Khaosod English: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/2018/12/28/fury-over-watch-scandal-ruling-prompts-recall-drive/

 

Ex-Bukidnon mayor gets 10 years for graft.  Stewart Leonardo, a former mayor of Quezon town in Bukidnon will be spending up to 10 years in prison for using public funds to purchase construction equipment for his personal use.

Elizabeth Marcelo/Phil Star:https://www.philstar.com/nation/2018/12/30/1880835/ex-bukidnon-mayor-gets-10-years-graft

Japanese foreign bribery / China lifetime jail / Mongolians protest government

Ex-M'bishi Hitachi execs admit to bribing Thai official.  Former executives of Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems Inc admitted on Tuesday to allegations of bribing a Thai public servant over a power plant project at their trial in a case under Japan's first plea bargain deal.

Bangkok Post: https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/1600674/ex-mbishi-hitachi-execs-admit-to-bribing-thai-official

 

China's ex deputy intelligence chief jailed for life over graft.  A Chinese court has jailed for life Ma Jian, a former high-ranking intelligence official, for taking bribes, coercive business deals and insider trading.

Aljazeera: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/12/china-deputy-intelligence-chief-jailed-life-graft-181227084531250.html

 

Mongolia: Thousands protest corruption in Ulaanbaatar.  Organizers estimated nearly 25,000 Mongolians have taken to the streets to protest against corruption in the top echelons of politics, including parliamentary speaker and others accused of selling government positions, braving temperatures that dropped below minus 20 degrees Celsius in the capital, Ulaanbaatar.

Aljazeera: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/12/mongolia-thousands-protest-corruption-ulaanbaatar-181227115515987.html 

Thai deputy cleared / Pakistan growing graft / Chinese SOE ex-boss

Anti-corruption body clears Prawit in watch scandal by narrow vote.  “One year after the deputy junta leader became engulfed in scandal over his collection of expensive watches, the [Thai] National Anti-Corruption Commission said it had cleared him of any wrongdoing.”

Pravit Rojanaphruk/Khaosod English: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/politics/2018/12/27/anti-corruption-body-clears-prawit-in-watch-scandal-by-narrow-vote/

 

Al-Azizia verdict: Trial Court laments over steadily growing graft.  The accountability court’s verdict – which sentenced former premier Nawaz Sharif to seven-year imprisonment – has lamented that corruption has been rampantly increasing in the country for the last two decades and has reached its climax now.

Hasnaat Malik/Tribune: https://tribune.com.pk/story/1874657/1-al-azizia-verdict-trial-court-laments-steadily-growing-graft/

 

Former Sinochem GM jailed 12 years for graft.  Cai Xiyou, who headed the Chinese energy and chemicals conglomerate, was charged with abusing his position to amass ill-gotten gains worth 53.7 million yuan (S$10.8 million) in the latest state-owned enterprise executive story caught up in a sweeping crackdown on corruption in China.

The Straits Times: https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/former-sinochem-gm-jailed-12-years-for-graft