OGP Asia-Pacific Meeting / Conspiracy hurts anti-corruption / Chennai generator corruption

Open Government Partnership Asia-Pacific Regional Meeting 2018.  The meeting on 5-6 November 2018 in Seoul, Republic of Korea, will provide an opportunity for OGP members and non-members to share lived experiences and explore a path towards open government under the themes of promoting participatory democracy, improving governance for a better life for all, and renewing public trust through government innovation.

Registration is open now until 15 October 2018. 

Open Government Partnership: http://www.ogpkorea.com/main.asp

 

Crying conspiracy hurts the war on corruption (Opinion).  “Conspiracy claims tossed about without verification can hamper the fight against corruption because, if left unchallenged, future politicians will copy the practice.”

The Nation: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/opinion/30353471

 

How a power generator exposed rampant corruption in the Chennai Corporation.  “Thus, with a view to ensure the effective implementation of Anti Corruption Laws to control and minimise the corrupt and illegal activities in government offices, the court directed the commissioner of the Chennai Corporation to transfer all the 39 Officials presently serving in the Vigilance Cell, Greater Chennai, en masse within a period of four weeks."

The News Minute: https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/how-power-generator-exposed-rampant-corruption-chennai-corporation-87585

Thai funds saved / Malaysian spies probed / China punishes 5,101

ACT claims billions in state funds saved.  “The Anti-Corruption Organization of Thailand (ACT) celebrated its 7th anniversary, with chairman Pramon Sutivong saying the organization has helped save 25.1 billion baht of state funds that could have been lost to corruption over the past seven years, crediting the success partly to the state procurement act of 2017 and the initiation of “integrity pacts” to ensure transparency and competition in government contracts.

Patpon Sabpaitoon/Bangkok Post: https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/1530674/act-claims-billions-in-state-funds-saved

 

Eight Malaysian former spies under probe for graft.  A group of former agents from Malaysia’s foreign intelligence agency, including its chief, are being investigated for alleged misappropriation of government funds, a senior Malaysian anti-graft official said.

Joseph Sipalan and Rozanna Latiff/Reuters: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-malaysia-corruption/eight-malaysian-former-spies-under-probe-for-graft-idUSKCN1LF0M8

 

China punishes 5,101 officials for violations in July.  China's top anti-graft body said they punished 5,101 officials for violating the Party's eight-point decision on improving official conduct in July, with awarding unauthorized allowance or bonus as the most common misdemeanor, followed by giving or accepting gifts and misuse of public vehicles.

Xinhua: http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-08/28/c_137425056.htm

Thai corruption survey / Corruption and #MeToo / Corruption lags economy

UTCC survey finds corruption ebbing.  According to the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce’s biannual Corruption Situation Index survey, Thailand improved in the first half of the year, thanks in part to the government taking serious action with respect to the temple funds embezzlement scandal and irregularities in an embezzlement-hit welfare fund intended to help poor students.

Phusadee Arunmas/Bangkok Post:  https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/news/1523078/UTCC-survey-finds-corruption-ebbing#cxrecs_s

 

Corruption and Gender Inequality in the Age of #MeToo (Blog).  “Fatafta [Transparency International’s regional advisor] highlighted how the UNCAC views corruption through an economic lens and fails to address its human rights and gender components.”

Caroline Bettinger-Lopez, Rebecca Hughes and Rachel Vogelstein/Council on Foreign Relations: https://www.cfr.org/blog/corruption-and-gender-inequality-age-metoo

 

How tariffs and corruption can ruin a growing economy (Analysis).  According to a new analysis of five-plus decades of economic data and history, the most effective way to sabotage economic growth is often as easy as increasing tariffs and playing favorites among industries and companies – and corruption.

Andrew Van Dam/The Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2018/08/28/how-tariffs-corruption-can-ruin-growing-economy/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.3291863c6f88

Pacific Anti-Corruption Updates (1 September 2018): Fiji, PNG

FIJI:

Ex-LTA Officer To Hear Ruling On September 14. The court ruling of a man charged with bribery, abuse of office and attempting to prevent justice, will be heard on September 21.

http://fijisun.com.fj/2018/08/30/ex-lta-officer-to-hear-ruling-on-september-14/

Forgeries Will Be Reported To Police, FICAC, TLTB Tells.  “At TLTB, we have found out that letters brought into our office which has signatures are signed on behalf of the person’s parents, siblings or cousins”

http://fijisun.com.fj/2018/08/30/forgeries-will-be-reported-to-police-ficac-tltb-tells/

Lawyers Agree To Chand Trial Date. The trial of former Fiji National University Vice Chancellor Ganesh Chand will take place from De­cember 3 to December 14, 2018.

https://fijisun.com.fj/2018/08/30/lawyers-agree-to-chand-trial-date/

Appeal granted against acquittal.  The High Court in Suva today granted an appeal by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption against a former police officer Sanita Laqenisiga.

http://www.fijitimes.com/appeal-granted-against-acquittal/

Money laundering trial begins in Suva.  The trial against two women who allegedly laundered over five hundred thousand dollars from Pacific Theological College (PTC) in Suva commenced before High Court judge Justice Salesi Temo today

http://www.fijitimes.com/money-laundering-trial-begins-in-suva/

Prosecution To Amend Information. Prosecution in a money laundering case involving two Cyprus nationals will amend the information within the next two weeks and file it in the High Court registry.

http://fijisun.com.fj/2018/08/29/prosecution-to-amend-information/

 

PNG:

Bougainville minister gets tough on corruption.  The Bougainville minister for administrative services, Robert Sawa, says about ten staff are facing charges after the discovery of apparent corruption in the public service.

https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/365305/bougainville-minister-gets-tough-on-corruption

Police case against PNG's Prime Minister is closed.  The case related to state payments of around US$30 million to a law firm, Paraka Lawyers.

https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/364839/police-case-against-png-s-prime-minister-is-closed

Criminal complaint filed against PNG Electoral Commissioner.  A Papua New Guinea MP has filed a criminal complaint against the Electoral Commissioner for alleged misdeeds in last year's general elections.

https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/364807/criminal-complaint-filed-against-png-electoral-commissioner

 

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

Maria Adomeit, Regional Anti-Corruption Adviser, UNODC, maria.adomeit@unodc.org

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

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

Thai driving license / Chinese suspect's family / Anti-corruption development model

Driving licence uproar unmasks character flaws (Opinion).  “The public’s concern that police could demand bribes from drivers who cannot produce a licence stems from the common perception that cops are corrupt and opportunistic.”

The Nation: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/opinion/30353017

 

China pressures family of Australian-based corruption suspect to ensure his return.  China's corruption watchdog has admitted to placing pressure on the family of Lai Mingming the former bank official, a suspect living in Australia to get him to return to China.

Kristy Needham/The Sydney Morning Herald: https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/china-pressures-family-of-australian-based-corruption-suspect-to-ensure-his-return-20180824-p4zznf.html

 

A model for corruption free development in Pakistan (Blog).  “I believe that community engagement in every step of the flow of works on development projects can be a way to eliminate many discrepancies.”

Yarjan Abdul Samad/Daily Times: https://dailytimes.com.pk/287947/a-model-for-corruption-free-development-in-pakistan/

Malaysia cash handouts / Thai land deeds / Pakistan corruption challenges

Cash handouts for Malaysia's needy must be stopped, has elements of corruption: Minister Azmin Ali.  “Cash handouts for Malaysia's lower-income groups should be stopped because there are elements of corruption in it, Minister for Economic Affairs Mohamed Azmin Ali said.”

The Straits Times: https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/cash-handouts-for-malaysias-needy-must-be-stopped-has-elements-of-corruption-minister

 

Land bought under false deeds returned.  Thailand’s Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) secretary-general Lt-Colonel Korntip Daroj said the owner of the two plots of land was willing to return the land to the state however, officials involved in the case now disciplined and dismissed from the civil service could not be punished because the alleged illegal transaction had taken place more than 30 years ago and statute of limitations had expired.

The Nation: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30353077

 

Curbing corruption, retrieving country's wealth biggest challenges: PM.  Prime Minister Imran Khan said that curbing corruption and retrieving wealth of the country, amassed through illegal means and laundered abroad, were among the biggest challenges for the government.

Geo Television Network: https://www.geo.tv/latest/208829-curbing-corruption-retrieving-countrys-wealth-biggest-challenges-pm

Asia borders corruption / India anti-graft amendment / Southeast Asia dams

Graft is alive and well on Asia's 'badland' borders (Commentary).  “Paradoxically, in Southeast Asia, the level of corruption between Laos and Cambodia could affect not only China's BRI but also other cross-border schemes and cooperation efforts -- not least between member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.”

Marco Ferrarese/Nikkei Asian Review: https://asia.nikkei.com/Editor-s-Picks/Tea-Leaves/Graft-is-alive-and-well-on-Asia-s-badland-borders

 

Key Amendment To India's Anti-Corruption Legislation Has Significant Implications For Multinationals Doing Business In India.  “While the Amendment affords MNCs the opportunity to mitigate their potential exposure by adopting a robust anti-corruption compliance program, the dearth of [the Prevention of Corruption Act] enforcement against private companies leaves significant ambiguity as to how Indian prosecutors will evaluate compliance programs.”

Geoffrey M. Atkins, Andrew J Dale, and Karen Oddo/Mondaq: http://www.mondaq.com/india/x/729848/White+Collar+Crime+Fraud/Key+Amendment+to+Indias+AntiCorruption+Legislation+Has+Significant+Implications+for+Multinationals+Doing+Business+in+India

 

Southeast Asia May Be Building Too Many Dams Too Fast.  “There have been many allegations of corruption tied to the awarding of construction contracts.”

Stefan Lovgren/National Geographic: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/2018/08/news-southeast-asia-building-dams-floods-climate-change/