Whistleblowing for business / Anti-Corruption award / Corruption wildlife trade

Serious About Fighting Corruption? How To Encourage Whistleblowing In Your Business.  Despite the almost rock star aura surrounding certain high-profile whistleblowers, however, there remain several imposing hurdles to exposing corruption within one's workplace.

Antonino Vaccaro/Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/sites/iese/2018/12/06/serious-about-fighting-corruption-how-to-encourage-whistleblowing-in-your-business/#426ae7752b9e

 

Qatar ruler, Dr Mahathir present anti corruption awards to outstanding individuals.  The Sheikh Tamim Hamad Al Thani International Anti-Corruption Excellence Award is to promote the importance of tackling corruption around the world and encouraging the efforts of the decisive measures stipulated in the United Nations Convention against Corruption.

The Sun Daily: https://www.thesundaily.my/local/qatar-ruler-dr-mahathir-present-anti-corruption-awards-to-outstanding-individuals-MB232196

 

Operation Dragon: New Evidence of the Scale of Corruption in the Illegal Turtle and Tortoise Trade in Southeast Asia - A Report by the Wildlife Justice Commission.  The Wildlife Justice Commission (WJC) has released in the run up to Anti-Corruption Day, the report Operation Dragon: Revealing new evidence of the scale of corruption and trafficking in the turtle and tortoise trade (1) detailing its Operation Dragon, a 2-year investigation (2016-2018) into the multi-million-dollar illegal trade of endangered reptile species in South and Southeast Asia and the scale of the corruption that enables this wildlife crime.

The Wildlife Justice Commission: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/operation-dragon-new-evidence-of-the-scale-of-corruption-in-the-illegal-turtle-and-tortoise-trade-in-southeast-asia-a-report-by-the-wildlife-justice-commission-817689585.html

Pacific Anti-Corruption Updates (8 December 2018): Kirbati, Fiji, PNG, Solomon Islands

KIRIBATI:

Kiribati NGO calls for release of Butiraoi report findings.  The NGO Kiribati Citizens Against Corruption is calling for the findings of a report into the Butiraoi sinking to be released.

https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/377382/kiribati-ngo-calls-for-release-of-butiraoi-report-findings

 

FIJI:

FCOSS calls for collaborative approach to combat corruption.  Fiji Council of Social Services (FCOSS) executive director Vani Catanasiga has urged businesses to work with non-government organisations (NGOs) on developing local tools for combating corruption.

https://www.fijitimes.com/fcoss-calls-for-collaborative-approach-to-combat-corruption/

Former manager facing corruption charges to take plea next year. Reginald Lal who is charged with one count of falsification of documents appeared this morning before Magistrate Deepika Prakash.

https://www.fijitimes.com/former-manager-facing-corruption-charges-to-take-plea-next-year/

Two WAF staff front court for alleged fraud.  Two Water Authority of Fiji staff have been charged with two counts of obtaining a financial advantage after they were alleged to have sold water tanks to residents in Nadi.

https://www.fijitimes.com/two-waf-staff-front-court-for-alleged-fraud/

Financial intelligence unit records 566 suspicious transactions. About 566 suspicious transactions reports were recorded by the Fiji Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) for the year ending July 2018.

https://www.fijitimes.com/financial-intelligence-unit-records-566-suspicious-transactions/

 

PNG:

PNG's former solicitor-general eligible to apply for asylum in Australia over 'payback' fears: court.  Papua New Guinea's former solicitor-general is allowed to apply for a protection visa in Australia, a court ruling has found, based on fears of harm after raising corruption allegations in what has been called the country's "biggest" alleged fraud case.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-12-04/court-rules-former-png-official-eligible-to-apply-for-asylum/10544460

Court rules former PNG SG can apply for protection in Aust.  The ABC reports the Federal Circuit Court of Australia heard that in 2012 Neville Devete made a complaint to PNG's National Fraud and Anti-Corruption Squad in relation to alleged "improper payments" made to PNG's biggest law firm, Paul Paraka Lawyers.

https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/377462/court-rules-former-png-sg-can-apply-for-protection-in-aust

 

SOLOMON ISLANDS:

Solomon Islands MP Dickson Mua arrested for corruption.  A member of parliament in Solomon Islands, Dickson Mua, has been arrested and charged with corruption.

https://herdongazette.com/solomon-islands-mp-dickson-mua-arrested-for-corruption/119545/

 

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

1MDB history syllabus / Alibaba chief case / Mongolia PM stays

1MDB to be included in schools' history syllabus: Malaysia's Education Minister.  “"I will make sure that 1MDB and how some leaders robbed the nation will be included in the history books so that future generations will not make the same mistake," said Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik.

The Straits Times: https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/1mdb-to-be-included-in-schools-history-syllabus-malaysias-education-minister

 

Chief at Alibaba video site Youku steps down amid corruption probe.  The president of Alibaba Group Holding Ltd’s video streaming service, Youku, has abruptly stepped down amid a wider Alibaba executives reshuffle, and is believed to be talking to Chinese authorities as part of a potential corruption case, the company said.

Cate Cadell/Reuters: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-facebook-sandberg/facebook-board-backs-sandbergs-request-to-initiate-research-into-soros-idUSKBN1O42LB

 

Mongolia’s PM has kept his job, but the country is reeling from fraud and political turmoil.  Prime Minister Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh survived a vote of no confidence following a scandal involving parliamentarians, cabinet members, and other high-ranking officials who channelled more than US$1 million in government funds to their family and friends – but now the PM must juggle party and opposition interests to retain power and fulfil new promises to fight corruption.

Aubrey Menarndt and Boldsaikhan Sambuu/South China Morning Post:https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/2176588/mongolias-pm-has-kept-his-job-country-reeling-fraud-and-political

Governance for sustainability / Malaysia cashless society / Bangladesh opposition disqualified

Good governance is the key to sustainability (Opinion).  “Investors, whether purchasers of equity or lenders, will not invest in a market or a company they view as unstable, corrupt, or utterly lacking basic protections for their investment and contractual rights.”

Dinesh Weerakkody/Daily FT: http://www.ft.lk/dinesh-weerakkody/Good-governance-is-the-key-to-sustainability/5-667848

 

Dr M: Cashless society can cut down corruption.  "Cash can be used to bribe. In a cashless society, we can record the transactions and we will know those who give and those who receive bribes," says Dr Mahathir at the launching of an unlimited travel pass using MyKad for public rail and bus users, an initiative by the Transport Ministry.

Zakiah Koya/The Star: https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2018/12/01/dr-m-cashless-society-can-cut-down-corruption/

 

Ex-Bangladesh PM barred from contesting this month's election.  Bangladesh's former prime minister and jailed opposition leader Khaleda Zia has been declared ineligible to contest this month's national elections over two graft convictions, authorities said.

Aljazeera: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/12/bangladesh-pm-khaleda-zia-ineligible-contest-elections-181202155221948.html

Public service "user-fee" / 1MDB US official / Indian utility company

Myanmar Should Adopt Formal User Fees To Displace Petty Bribery (Blog).  “In short, the proposal is to formalize some of the currently unregulated payments for government services, through the imposition of pre-identified and pre-determined “user fees,” coupled with special provisions to ensure access for the very poorest.”

Heesu Chung/The Global Anticorruption Blog: https://globalanticorruptionblog.com/2018/11/30/myanmar-should-adopt-formal-user-fees-to-displace-petty-bribery/

 

Ex-US justice official pleads guilty in 1MDB lobbying scandal.  George Higginbotham, 46, a former US Department of Justice official has pleaded guilty to banking violations as part of an attempt to lobby Washington to drop an investigation into a money laundering and bribery scheme that pilfered billions from Malaysia's 1MDB investment fund.

Aljazeera: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/12/justice-official-pleads-guilty-1mdb-lobbying-scandal-181201060555943.html

 

HESCO XEN, three line officials booked for corruption.  As rampant power theft in the jurisdiction of Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (HESCO) in connivance with the company’s staff continues, in a rare action, HESCO has booked its own executive engineer and three staff members in separate First Information Reports.

Z Ali/The Express Tribune: https://tribune.com.pk/story/1858427/1-hesco-xen-three-line-officials-booked-corruption/

Sri Lanka land corruption / Chinese ex-Interpol chief / 1MDB journalist interview

Fighting land corruption in Sri lanka (Blog).  “The legal element has tended to be missing from social accountability projects, but by bridging social mobilisation, legal advice and the political process, TI Sri Lanka is working towards a future where people like Sivarasa are given access to their rights, and their land.”

Transparency International: https://voices.transparency.org/fighting-land-corruption-in-sri-lanka-871a54709a2b

 

Ex-Interpol chief facing corruption charges is expelled from Chinese government advisory body.  Meng Hongwei’s membership was revoked by The National Committee for the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) which consists of 2,000 delegates including celebrities and big corporate chiefs.

South China Morning Post: https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/2175792/ex-interpol-chief-facing-corruption-charges-expelled-chinese

 

'It's About Right and Wrong.' In Conversation With the Journalist Who Exposed the World's Biggest Corruption Scandal.  “I very rapidly realized that I had gone from a grassroots cause [environmental degradation in Sarawak] to possibly the most pressing and dangerous global issue of our times, which is capitalism gone absolutely rampant.”

Suyin Haynes/TIME: http://time.com/5463070/malaysia-1mdb-clare-rewcastle-brown-sarawak-report-interview/

Pacific Anti-Corruption Updates (1 December 2018): PNG, Solomon Islands, Samoa, Fiji

Nauru, PNG, Fiji criticised for obstructing freedom. Civic freedoms in three Pacific nations are under threat, according to the international watchdog group, Civicus.

https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/376935/nauru-png-fiji-criticised-for-obstructing-freedom

 

PAPUA NEW GUINEA:

PNG PM told to stand down over corruption allegations. Papua New Guinea's prime minister, Peter O'Neill, has been called upon to stand down and allow an inquiry into allegations of personal and corporate impropriety.

https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/376940/png-pm-told-to-stand-down-over-corruption-allegations

PNG fraud squad begins Bougainville investigations. The police team was invited by the Bougainville President John Momis after revelations of a massive fraud involving the autonomous government's payroll, along with the misappropriation of millions of kina of disaster funds.

https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/376900/png-fraud-squad-begins-bougainville-investigations

 

SOLOMON ISLANDS:

Journos told: Do more probing stories. Local journalists attending a week-long Anti-Corruption Reporting, Promotion of Integrity, Transparency and Accountability training in Honiara were being told to write more investigative stories.

http://www.solomonstarnews.com/index.php/news/national/item/21134-journos-told-do-more-probing-stories

Corruption investigations on public officials continues. Investigations are continuing into the ten highly ranked public officials who are under police radar for corruption allegations.

http://www.sibconline.com.sb/corruption-investigations-on-public-officials-continues/

High profile corruption convict refused bail in Solomon Islands. He was convicted on three counts of official corruption earlier this month and given a two year jail sentence.

https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/376652/high-profile-corruption-convict-refused-bail-in-solomon-islands

Dausabea urges Police to probe corruption. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Indigenous Chamber of Commerce and Trade Solomon Islands (ICCTSI) Charles Dausabea is urging police to investigate corruption allegations rather than waiting for someone to lodged a complaint.

http://www.solomonstarnews.com/index.php/news/national/item/21140-dausabea-urges-police-to-probe-corruption

$1m mysterious payment. The one million ($1m) in shipping grant that was supposed to be received by Didao Development Cooperation remains a mystery and untraceable since documents related to the payment were missing from the Ministry of Finance.

http://www.solomonstarnews.com/index.php/news/national/item/21145-1m-mysterious-payment

 

SAMOA:

Minister disappointed at spike in misuse cases. Minister of Finance Sili Epa Tuioti says he is “extremely disappointed” with the increasing number of public funds misuse cases within Government ministries.

http://sobserver.ws/en/26_11_2018/local/38830/Minister-disappointed-at-spike-in-misuse-cases.htm

 

FIJI:

High Court discharges case against Chand. The case against the former vice-chancellor of the Fiji National University (FNU) was today discharged by the High Court in Suva.

https://www.fijitimes.com/high-court-discharges-case-against-chand/