Money laundering and illicit financial flows / PhilHealth chief denies corruption allegations / Whistle-blower granted bail

Money laundering and illicit financial flows – the 'getaway car' of corruption. "Combatting money laundering and flows of illicit finance is central to the global response to corruption. These are the means by which criminals enjoy the fruits of their wrongdoing. Yet development agencies remain relative newcomers to the field, not least because the anti-money laundering/illicit finance problem presents major challenges to donors' ways of working. There also continues to be much debate over what should be included in the term 'illicit financial flows' – and over methods to measure them. Without better means for countries to know how each is affected by illicit finance, policy responses risk not fitting the actual problem." 

 

Phil Mason / U4: https://www.u4.no/publications/twenty-years-with-anti-corruption-part-5 

 

 

PhilHealth chief denies corruption allegations anew. "No officials have defrauded the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) despite fresh allegations of corruption within the state insurer, its chief maintained on Monday. PhilHealth president and CEO Ricardo Morales reiterated during the "Laging Handa" briefing that it is "premature" to go to President Rodrigo Duterte without substantial claims, following reports of missing ₱154-billion funds within the agency through 'fraudulent schemes'." 

 

CNN Philippines: https://cnnphilippines.com/news/2020/6/22/Ricardo-Morales-denies-PhilHealth-corruption-allegations.html 

 

 

(Thai) Army whistle-blower granted bail for absence charge. "A sergeant who exposed corruption in the army has been granted bail from a military court for the charge of unauthorised absence. Military investigators took Sgt Narongchai Intarakawi, 33, a clerk at the army's Ordnance Department, to the Bangkok military court on Monday to seek the first round of his detention on Monday. (…) According to him, he found his name had been used to apply for allowances during 2011-19 for non-existent trips and projects. He complained to his supervisor, hoping it would stop but was reprimanded." 

 

Bangkok Post: https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1939140/army-whistle-blower-granted-bail-for-absence-charge