Jakarta Principles revisit / Tax planning transparency / Afghanistan accountability controls

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Dispatches from the UNCAC Conference of States Parties, Part 1: Revisiting the Jakarta Principles of Anti-Corruption Agencies (commentary).  "Last month's COSP panel on 'Revisiting the Jakarta Principles: Strengthening Anti-Corruption Agencies' Independence and Effectiveness' made a strong case for ACA's importance to the fight against corruption."

Matthew Stephenson/Global Anticorruption Blog: https://globalanticorruptionblog.com/2017/12/19/dispatches-from-the-uncac-conference-of-states-parties-part-1-revisiting-the-jakarta-principles-of-anti-corruption-agencies

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Tax Planning in a World of Increased Transparency (commentary).  " Multinational Enterprises (MNEs) are facing an evolving international tax landscape with long-term implications for tax compliance, planning and controversy. "

Michael R. Louis & Cym H. Lowell, McDermott Will & Emery/The National Law Review: https://www.natlawreview.com/article/tax-planning-world-increased-transparency

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Pentagon Watchdog Struggles to Teach Afghan Government Accountability Controls.  Among the many reasons for the slow progress in stabilizing war-torn Afghanistan is poor communication between U.S. inspectors and the Kabul government on how U.S. support is tracked.

Charles S. Clark/Government Executive: http://www.govexec.com/oversight/2018/01/pentagon-watchdog-struggles-teach-afghan-government-accountability-controls/144933

Korea ODA taint / Taiwan bar reform / Pakistan offshore probe

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Korea's ODA project tainted by corruption scandal of ex-President Park: probe.  Impeached President Park Geun-hye's close friend who was charged with meddling in state affairs had been illegitimately involved in designing South Korea's official development assistance program, a probe result showed

Yonhap/The Korea Herald: http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20171226000777

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Taiwan authorities call for bar membership reform.  Judges and prosecutors who have been charged with corruption or who lack the moral disposition to practice law should not be allowed to become attorneys, the Control Yuan's Committee on Judicial and Prison Administration Affairs said in a report published late last month.

Shih Hsiao-kuang and Sherry Hsiao/Taipei Times: http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2018/01/02/2003685051

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Government orders probe into 435 Pakistanis' offshore companies.  Chairman National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal ordered an immediate inquiry into the companies owned by 435 Pakistanis in the tax havens of Panama and British Virgin Islands.

The News International: https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/261183-nab-orders-probe-into-435-pakistanis-offshore-companies

Hong Kong graft complaints / Thailand unmarried partners / Australia anti-corruption bills

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Graft complaints in Hong Kong's finance and insurance sectors up by 20 per cent, with 177 cases reported in 2017.  Complaints of corruption in Hong Kong's finance and insurance sectors rose by almost 20 per cent to 177 in the first 11 months of 2017, the Independent Commission Against Corruption reported, even as it said that this did not point to a worsening problem.

Christy Leung/South China Morning Post: http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/2125075/graft-complaints-hong-kongs-finance-and-insurance-sectors

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Thailand's anti-graft bill to target unmarried partners.  The anti-graft organic bill expected to go before the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) last December 21, 2017 will require unmarried partners of political office-holders to declare their assets, chairman of the scrutiny committee Chatchawal Suksomjit said.

Mongkol Bangprapa/Bangkok Post: https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politics/1382011/anti-graft-bill-to-target-unmarried-partners

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Australia: Whistleblowing and Foreign Bribery Bills introduced into Senate.  The Australian Government has introduced two new Bills into the Senate on the last sitting week of 2017 that, if passed, will increase companies' corporate compliance requirements. 

Georgie Farrant & Naomita Royan/Global Compliance News: https://globalcompliancenews.com/australia-whistleblowing-and-foreign-bribery-bills-senate-20171212/

Malaysia biggest accomplices / Hong Kong training / Myanmar encouragement

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Illegal money changers 'biggest accomplices' of the corrupt, says Malaysia anti-graft agency.  Illegal money changers, also known as underground bankers, are among the biggest accomplices in money laundering and graft activities, according to a senior officer of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

Free Malaysia Today: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2018/01/02/macc-illegal-money-changers-biggest-accomplices-of-the-corrupt/

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2018 Senior Executive Certificate in Institutional Integrity Management programme, 17-27 April, 2018.  The 2018 Senior Executive Certificate in Institutional Integrity Management programme will be held in Hong Kong University from 17 – 27 April 2018 and it is now inviting applications from overseas anti-corruption or related organizations in both public and private sectors, as well as those who need to enhance their professional knowledge in the post of integrity/ethic manager.

To apply or know more, please visit this link: http://hkuspace.hku.hk/prog/senior-exe-cert-in-institutional-integrity-management

Thank you to Tony Kwok, Adjunct Professor & Hon Course Director, Hong Kong University School of Professional and Continuing Education, for sharing this information.

AP-INTACT shares this information strictly as a service to members. To apply or know more, visit the relevant link in the message. Please do not send your query or application to AP-INTACT. AP-INTACT is not responsible for the accuracy of the posted information, including links to web pages, and is not involved in any way in the selection practices and decisions of the sponsoring organisation.

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Myanmar Anti-Corruption Commission Encourages Public to File Complaints.  Members of the public can complain, but with clear evidence, about civil servants who are wealthier than their pay scale would warrant, said Anti-Corruption Commission spokesperson U Han Nyunt.

Htet Naing Zaw/The Irrawaddy: https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/anti-corruption-commission-encourages-public-file-complaints.html

Pakistan accountability law / Hong Kong year-end review / Myanmar 2018 forum

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Pakistan SC judge backs accountability of judiciary, army.  Justice Dost Muhammad Khan of the Supreme Court has said that he is a supporter of bringing the judges and generals under the accountability law.

Hasnaat Malik/The Express Tribune: https://tribune.com.pk/story/1595435/1-sc-judge-backs-accountability-judiciary-army/

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How Hong Kong is combating corruption: A year-end review.  Hong Kong's Independent Commission Against Corruption continues to make strides in combating corruption on all fronts, according to Chow Chung-kong, chairman of the Advisory Committee on Corruption.

Jaclyn Jaeger/Compliance Week: https://www.complianceweek.com/blogs/global-glimpses/how-hong-kong-is-combating-corruption-a-year-end-review#.Wkrz42T1VFQ

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Myanmar to hold 2018 symposium on anti-corruption.  Myanmar will hold a symposium on anti-corruption in Yangon on Jan. 22-23, 2018, under the theme of "Promoting integrity to Counter Corruption," Myanmar News Agency reported.

Xinhuanet: http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2017-12/28/c_136856968.htm

Korea ODA taint / Taiwan bar reform / Pakistan offshore probe

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Korea's ODA project tainted by corruption scandal of ex-President Park: probe.  Impeached President Park Geun-hye's close friend who was charged with meddling in state affairs had been illegitimately involved in designing South Korea's official development assistance program, a probe result showed

Yonhap/The Korea Herald: http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20171226000777

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Taiwan authorities call for bar membership reform.  Judges and prosecutors who have been charged with corruption or who lack the moral disposition to practice law should not be allowed to become attorneys, the Control Yuan's Committee on Judicial and Prison Administration Affairs said in a report published late last month.

Shih Hsiao-kuang and Sherry Hsiao/Taipei Times: http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2018/01/02/2003685051

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Government orders probe into 435 Pakistanis' offshore companies.  Chairman National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal ordered an immediate inquiry into the companies owned by 435 Pakistanis in the tax havens of Panama and British Virgin Islands.

The News International: https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/261183-nab-orders-probe-into-435-pakistanis-offshore-companies

Indonesia justice institutions / Bangladesh ICT / Thailand top 10

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2017 Gloomy Year for Justice System, Indonesia Corruption Watch Says.  The Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) said 2017 has been the gloomiest year for bribery cases in justice institutions. 

Tempo: https://en.tempo.co/read/news/2017/12/28/055914405/2017-Gloomy-Year-for-Justice-System-ICW-Says

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ICT can drive away graft in Bangladesh.  Corruption will be eliminated from the country if the information and communications technology is used properly, Finance Minister AMA Muhith said.

The Daily Star: http://www.thedailystar.net/frontpage/laurels-ict-heroes-1511392

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Anticorruption advocacy group releases top 10 issues to watch in Thailand.  Potential corruption by government cronies is on top of the watch list released by the Anti-Corruption of Thailand (ACT) group.

The Nation: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30334924