Korean ex-president jailed / Pakistan opposition arrested / 50 Philippines officials

Another former South Korea president jailed for corruption.  Former South Korea president Lee Myung-bak was fined 11.5 million USD and sentenced to 15 years in prison on Friday for corruption, the latest in a string of former leaders of the country who have faced similar charges after leaving office.

Simon Denyer and Min Joo Kim/The Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/another-former-south-korea-president-jailed-for-corruption/2018/10/05/7e216cc6-c866-11e8-9158-09630a6d8725_story.html?utm_term=.0dc3970d528c

 

Pakistan’s anti-graft body arrests opposition leader.  The National Accountability Bureau in a statement said it arrested Shahbaz Sharif over his alleged links to a million-dollar housing scam after questioning him for several hours at its office in Lahore.

Zaheer Babar/The Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/pakistan-anti-graft-body-arrests-opposition-leader-over-scam/2018/10/05/1d5cbede-c895-11e8-9c0f-2ffaf6d422aa_story.html?utm_term=.17fbe33f5112

 

50 government execs being probed for corruption.  This regional report serves as a reference document, providing a broad overview of why right to information matters, where it stands in a range of countries in the region and what our key recommendations are.

Edith Regalado/PhilStar: https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2018/10/06/1857770/50-government-execs-being-probed-corruption

 

Pacific Anti-Corruption Updates (6 October2018): Fiji, PNG, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Samoa

FIJI:

Ex-Sugar Research Institute CEO In Court For Corruption-Related Charges. The former acting chief executive of­ficer of the Sugar Research Institute of Fiji (SRIF), San­jay Prakash, has been charged by the Fiji Independ­ent Commission against Corruption (FICAC) on corrup­tion related matters.

https://fijisun.com.fj/2018/10/03/ex-sugar-research-institute-ceo-in-court-for-corruption-related-charges/

Ex-Bureau Employee In Court On Fraud Charges. Kelera Nokelevu appeared be­fore Magistrate Waleen George charged with one count each of obtaining financial advantage and using forged documents by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC).

http://fijisun.com.fj/2018/10/05/ex-bureau-employee-in-court-on-fraud-charges/

Woman In Human Trafficking Case Further Remanded. Woman charged with alleged hu­man trafficking was further re­manded by High Court of Suva yesterday.

http://fijisun.com.fj/2018/10/05/woman-in-human-trafficking-case-further-remanded/

 

PAPUA NEW GUINEA:

PNG finance chief warns officials to end corruption. The Papua New Guinea Finance Minister, James Marape, has warned provincial and district finance managers about seeking kickbacks in the course of their work.

https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/368020/png-finance-chief-warns-officials-to-end-corruption

Going one step further in police investigations.  Corruption in Papua New Guinea is a big issue and it has now included money laundering.

https://postcourier.com.pg/going-one-step-police-investigations/

Police restrained from interfering in security commission.  The National Court has granted interim injuctive orders restraining the police from interfering in the role of the Chairman of the Securities Commission of PNG, Alex Tongayu, and the function of the Commission.

http://www.looppng.com/png-news/police-restrained-interfering-security-commission-79930

 

SOLOMON ISLANDS:

Solomon Islands devoted to good governance & transparency: PM told UNGA.  Solomon Islands is committed to the principles of good governance and transparency.

https://www.onepng.com/2018/10/solomon-islands-devoted-to-good.html

 

TOKELAU:

In Tokelau, NZ must ease tensions, mend relations.  Millions of dollars of government funds spent on helicopters and property without proper approval in 2016 has become a lingering embarrassment, symptomatic of governance woes.

https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/367728/in-tokelau-nz-must-ease-tensions-mend-relations

 

SAMOA:

Hearing of alleged passport sale begins. The trial of a former Immigration Officer, David Nomereta Uaine, accused of the sale of Samoan passports started yesterday.

http://sobserver.ws/en/04_10_2018/local/37304/Hearing-of-alleged-passport-sale-begins.htm

MACC proposed caning / Military corruption impunity / Chinese campaign success

MACC wants Govt to consider proposal to cane the corrupt.  “MACC Chief Commissioner Datuk Seri Mohd Shukri Abdull (pic) said the proposed punishment on caning directly reflected the serious efforts of the agency in wanting to eradicate corruption in an all-out manner.”

The Star: https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2018/09/30/macc-wants-govt-to-consider-proposal-to-cane-the-corrupt/

 

Military Immunity Forgotten Amid Corruption Crackdown (Analysis).  “According to anti-graft czar U Aung Kyi, corruption cases related to the military are beyond the mandate of the commission, because the Constitution grants the military the right to tackle corruption within its ranks using internal mechanisms.”

Nyein Nyein/The Irrawaddy:https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/analysis-military-immunity-forgotten-amid-corruption-crackdown.html

 

Chinese President Xi Jinping’s anti-corruption drive a huge success, says new book.  “Chinese President Xi Jinping’s high-profile anti-graft campaign has scored an “overwhelming victory” and a large number of Chinese now believe that corruption levels are down in the country, says a new government-sanctioned policy book.”

Sutirtho Patranobi/Hindustan Times: https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/chinese-president-xi-jinping-s-anti-corruption-drive-a-huge-success-says-new-book/story-9mDLdwnOQTIdaQjIcOr61M.html

 

Ensuring RTI implementation / MACC asset recovery / China holiday warning

How a simple information request is a powerful social accountability tool: lessons from Pakistan and the Maldives (Blog).  “The problem is that despite having [Right To Information] laws or policies in place, the public sector in many countries still has a culture of secrecy.”

Mahmoud Farag/Transparency International: https://voices.transparency.org/how-a-simple-information-request-is-a-powerful-social-accountability-tool-lessons-from-pakistan-33fc89179963

 

RM2.5 billion in cash seized, frozen since June: Malaysia's anti-graft agency.  The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has seized and frozen RM2.5 billion (US$604 million) in cash since June through its investigations into various corruption cases, including the one involving scandal-hit state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

Channel NewsAsia: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/malaysia-anti-graft-agency-macc-seized-rm2-5-billion-cash-10769334

 

China graft watchdog warns officials about holiday excess.  The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) warned officials to stick to a stringent “frugality code” over the mid-Autumn festival next week and avoid receiving money or abusing public funds, the state-run China Daily said.

Adam Jourdan/Reuters: https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-china-corruption/china-graft-watchdog-warns-officials-about-holiday-excess-idUKKCN1M801P

 

Yangon new Attorney-General / Pakistan recovers 20mil / Singapore immigration bribery

Yangon Parliament Approves New Attorney General.  The Yangon Parliament unanimously approved Daw Khin Myo Kyi as the new attorney general of Yangon Region, replacing U Han Htoo, who was arrested earlier this month for allegedly taking bribes to drop a murder case.
 

The Irrawaddy: https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/yangon-parliament-approves-new-attorney-general.html

 

NAB recovers Rs2.4 billion in 11 months.  Pakistan’s National Accountability Bureau (NAB) released the report of its performance of the last 11 months from October 2017 to September 2018, which stated 72 accused persons were convicted by the respective Accountability Courts in various references of corruption filed by NAB and recovered Rs2410.250 million (approx. 20 mil USD).

Asim Yasin/The News: https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/372004-nab-recovers-rs2-4-billion-in-11-months

 

Singapore immigration officer charged in sex bribery case.  A Singapore immigration official was charged for allegedly receiving sexual favours from Chinese women in exchange for helping them extend their visas, a rare case of corruption in a city-state known for its clean image.

AFP/The Jakarta Post: http://www.thejakartapost.com/seasia/2018/09/27/singapore-immigration-officer-charged-in-sex-bribery-case.html

Indonesia corruption-democracy survey / Myanmar anti-corruption drive / Right to Information report

Survey in Indonesia indicates corruption and intolerance are threats to democracy in the country.  Indonesians are satisfied with democracy, but corruption and intolerance continue to weigh on the system, according to a survey conducted in August by pollster Indonesia Survey Circle (LSI).

Linda Yulisman:https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/survey-in-indonesia-shows-corruption-and-intolerance-are-threats-to-democracy-in-the

 

Anti-corruption drive dodges political donations and criminal liability.  Nay Pyi Taw has stepped up its efforts to curb corruption by empowering the anti-graft body and reaching out to the private sector but crucially, there are still no criminal liability for offering bribes and no effective regulations on political donations.

Thompson Chau/Myanmar Times: https://www.mmtimes.com/news/anti-corruption-drive-dodges-political-donations-and-criminal-liability.html

 

Right to Information in Asia Pacific: How 11 Countries Perform on SDG 16.10 (Resource).  This regional report serves as a reference document, providing a broad overview of why right to information matters, where it stands in a range of countries in the region and what our key recommendations are.

Transparency International: https://www.transparency.org/whatwedo/publication/right_to_information_in_asia_pacific

Pacific Anti-Corruption Updates (29 September 2018): Fiji, PNG, Solomon Islands, Marshall Islands, Tokelau, Samoa

FIJI:

Former civil servants jailed to seven years for corruption. Two former employees of the then Public Works Department (PWD) have been sentenced to seven years imprisonment

http://www.fijitimes.com/former-civil-servants-jailed-to-seven-years-for-corruption/

Chinese National On Alleged Bribery Charge Denied Bail.  A Chinese national charged with brib­ery was denied his bail variation application by the High Court in Suva.

http://fijisun.com.fj/2018/09/28/chinese-national-on-alleged-bribery-charge-denied-bail/

Fiji court dismisses Chinese national’s application for bail variation. Qian Jun Shi is charged by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) with one count of bribery.

http://www.fijitimes.com/fiji-court-dismisses-chinese-nationals-application-for-bail-variation/

 

PAPUA NEW GUINEA:

Former PNG University Vice-Chancellor Prof John Warren was facing the sack.  Former vice-chancellor of the Papua New Guinea University of National Resources and Environment Prof John Warren, pictured, left as he was about to be sacked by the university council, says chancellor Prof Kenneth Sumbuk.

https://www.onepng.com/2018/09/former-png-university-vice-chancellor.html

 

SOLOMON ISLANDS:

Solomons electoral office stops issuing voter ID cards over corruption concerns.  Concerns of corruption have prompted the electoral office in Solomon Islands to stop issuing voter identification cards to people wanting to switch constituencies.

https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/367264/solomons-electoral-office-stops-issuing-voter-id-cards-over-corruption-concerns

Voter registration extended in Solomon Islands. The voter registration process in Solomon Islands which was supposed to end today has been extended until midday on Saturday.

https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/367438/voter-registration-extended-in-solomon-islands

 

MARSHALL ISLANDS:

Remote Marshall Islands atoll plans to become the 'next Hong Kong'.  More than 5,000 kilometres away from his home in the Marshall Islands, the Mayor of Rongelap atoll, James Matayoshi, addressed hundreds of entrepreneurs, government officials and politicians in Hong Kong.

https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/366965/remote-marshall-islands-atoll-plans-to-become-the-next-hong-kong

 

TOKELAU:

Trouble abound in Tokelau as NZ investigation into alleged corruption stalls. An investigation into allegations of corruption in Tokelau has been stalled by a backlog of unaudited government accounts, adding to a growing basket of governance woes facing the New Zealand territory.

https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/367421/trouble-abound-in-tokelau-as-nz-investigation-into-alleged-corruption-stalls

 

SAMOA:

Afamasaga investigation ongoing. The investigation into corruption allegations levelled at the Ministry of Works, Transport and Infrastructure C.E.O. Afamasaga Su’a Pou Onesemo is yet to be completed. 

http://www.sobserver.ws/en/26_09_2018/local/37100/Afamasaga-investigation-ongoing.htm