Pacific Anti-Corruption Updates (10 August 2019): PNG, Fiji

PAPUA NEW GUINEA:

PNG: some reform suggestions.  “The first, and indeed the reform being emphasised by the Marape administration itself, is to fix governance. No one can argue against the proposition that PNG, its people and its economy would benefit from less corruption and stronger law and order.”

https://www.devpolicy.org/png-some-reform-suggestions-20190808/

Former PNG chief justice to lead UBS inquiry.  Papua New Guinea's recently retired Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia will chair the commission of inquiry into the controversial UBS loan.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/396247/former-png-chief-justice-to-lead-ubs-inquiry

Reduce crime, corruption to take back PNG, says Manning.  In support of the government’s intent on “taking back PNG”, crime and corruption must be reduced significantly, says acting Deputy Commissioner and Chief of Police Operations David Manning.

https://postcourier.com.pg/reduce-crime-corruption-take-back-png-says-manning/

 

FIJI:

Ministry employee faces corruption charges.  The Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption charged Dinesh Dayal and Rajeshwar Prasad with a joint count of conspiracy to defraud causing a loss and one count each of obtaining a financial advantage.

https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/court/ministry-employee-faces-corruption-charges/  

 

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

Myanmar responsible business / Indonesia rector election / India government's argument

Myanmar Centre for Responsible Business August Newsletter.  Read about what has been happening in Myanmar on the responsible business conduct and business integrity agenda – including the work with SMEs done in partnership with UNDP.

Myanmar Centre for Responsible Business: https://mailchi.mp/myanmar-responsiblebusiness/2019-08

 

Corruption major issue in rector election.  As several Indonesian state universities kicked off the election of their new rectors recently, academic authorities and civil society organizations are calling on election committees and other related stakeholders to stay away from corrupt practices and conflict of interest in the process. Some officials have already approached KPK to ask the antigraft body to help safeguard the process.

Kharishar Kahfi/The Jakarta Post: https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2019/08/06/corruption-major-issue-in-rector-election.html

 

Article 370 was elephant in the room, prevented curbing terrorism, corruption: Govt.  Amidst the debates and protests to the BJP-led government’s move to reduce the autonomy of the states for Jammu and Kashmir granted by Article 370, the government issued a detailed booklet explaining the rationale behind the revocation of Article 370 and provision of 35A, that anti-corruption provisions like Right to Information and Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) were not application in the two states because of this article.

The Statesman: https://www.thestatesman.com/india/article-370-elephant-room-prevented-curbing-terrorism-corruption-govt-1502785892.html

Sri Lanka law amendment / China business cases / Nepal investigation process

Sri Lanka’s anti-corruption agency to introduce sweeping legislation to curb graft.  Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) Director General Sarath Jayamanne revealed that the new proposed amendments to several acts would allow the CIABOC to investigate and charge corrupt practices in the private sector, while holding public officials, including politicians, more accountable.

Daily Mirror: http://www.dailymirror.lk/business-news/Sri-Lankas-anti-corruption-agency-to-introduce-sweeping-legislation-to-curb-graft/273-172145 

 

Dozens of employees at Baidu and Didi fired for corruption.  Baidu, whose paid listing scheme was previously involved in healthcare industry scandals, has fired 14 staffs linked to 12 internal corruption cases, and said that it will transfer some of the cases to the police for further investigation as well.

Luna Lin/KrAsia: https://kr-asia.com/dozens-of-employees-at-baidu-and-didi-fired-for-corruption

 

Suspected suicides by people under graft probe highlight need to revamp investigation process.  “Anti-corruption activists say corrupt people should face penalty—fine and jail terms as per the law…[b]ut in order to discourage any untoward move from the suspect(s), [Khem Raj Regmi, president of Transparency International Nepal] said, the anti-graft agency should keep the names of the accused until there is credible evidence against the individuals.

Prithvi Man Shrestha/Eleven Myanmar: https://elevenmyanmar.com/news/suspected-suicides-by-people-under-graft-probe-highlight-need-to-revamp-investigation-process

Anti-money laundering tech / Singapore site manager / Philippines SEA Games

Troops Wanted: Anti Money Laundering Tech needs the right talent to win battle against criminals (Blog).  “Anti-money laundering tech is not sophisticated enough across the board to consistently fight back against determined fraudsters who are also investing in new tactics. Some are winning the battle but for the war to be won, the partnership of intelligent and high scale IT with skilled people at the helm must form quickly.”

Gareth Williams/Finextra: https://www.finextra.com/blogposting/17697/troops-wanted-anti-money-laundering-tech-needs-the-right-talent-to-win-battle-against-criminals

 

Former site manager fined S$30,000 for corruption.  Kolanji Govindan, a 47-year-old former site manager has been fined S$30,000 for taking bribes in exchange for recommending another firm to do scaffolding support works for his company.

Channel NewsAsia: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/corruption-cpib-fined-former-site-manager-11772742

 

Duterte wants SEA Games committee out of picture due to 'corruption'.  The Philippines Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said, “President Duterte said he doesn't want the foundation. He wants the government to organize the SEA Games. He said that there was a lot of corruption in the private entity, so that's why the sports leaders are bickering.”

Beatrice Go/Rappler: https://www.rappler.com/sports/specials/sea-games/235528-duterte-wants-committee-out-due-to-corruption

UNODC anti-corruption newsletter / Accountability despite fragility / Iran elites crackdown

UNODC Anti-Corruption Newsletter: South and Southeast Asia Q2 2019.  

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime:  https://www.unodc.org/documents/southeastasiaandpacific//topics/anti-corruption/UNODC_AC_Newsletter_Q2_2019.html

 

Accountability Despite Fragility: Lessons for Supporting Budget Transparency in Fragile and Conflict-Affected Settings (Blog).  “Rather than seeing fragility and conflict as barriers to budget transparency work, donors should see them as opportunities to help rebuild budget systems in ways that embed transparency and accountability for aligning spending with citizens needs.”

Alden LeClair/Transparency and Accountability Initiative: https://www.transparency-initiative.org/blog/5209/supporting-budget-transparency-in-fragile-and-conflict-affected-settings/

 

Iran's crackdown on corruption reaches elites.  “The judges who issued the hefty verdicts earned praise for dodging pressure from powerful politicians…The Iranian judiciary has been traditionally controlled by hard-liners and reports solely to the country's supreme leader, leaving many wondering if the anti-corruption drive will transcend the political divide and remain nonpartisan.”

Al-Monitor: https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2019/07/iran-crackdown-corruption-jail-sentences.html 

Pacific Anti-Corruption Updates (3 Aug 2019): Solomon Islands, PNG, Samoa, Fiji, Federated States of Micronesia

Training in the Pacific. Fourteen representatives from seven Pacific countries undertake Ombudsman investigator training in Fiji, following a two-day workshop in March in Vanuatu when the Office of the New Zealand Ombudsman delivered training on prison investigations and inspections.

http://pacific.scoop.co.nz/2019/07/training-in-the-pacific/

 

SOLOMON ISLANDS:

Solomons govt to launch anti-corruption commission this year.  The Solomon Islands government is planning to launch the country's first Independent Commission Against Corruption before the end of the year.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/395598/solomons-govt-to-launch-anti-corruption-commission-this-year

Police Urges Public to Raise Complaints Through Right Channel.  Provincial Police Commander (PPC) of Temotu Province pointed out: “RSIPF officers shall not commit or attempt to commit an act of corruption or abuse of power as clearly stipulated in schedule 1, regulation 3 of the Police Act 2013 –Regulations 2013, but public are encouraged to provide evidence to the Professional Standards and Internal Investigation (PSII) Department if any RSIPF officer is allegedly involved in any corruption act or abuse of power.”

https://www.solomontimes.com/news/police-urges-public-to-raise-complaints-through-right-channel/9246

 

PAPUA NEW GUINEA:

Learning to fly: piloting research in Papua New Guinea.  The research, eventually conducted across four provinces, aimed at better understanding public servants’ perceptions and experiences of good governance and corruption.

https://www.devpolicy.org/learning-to-fly-piloting-research-in-papua-new-guinea-20190731/

New PNG Police minister to target Paladin. UBS Papua New Guinea's Police Minister, Bryan Kramer, has pledged to investigate links between controversial security contractor Paladin and former prime minister Peter O'Neill, while calling out investment bank UBS for its "fishy" dealings in the Pacific nation.

https://www.afr.com/policy/foreign-affairs/new-png-police-minister-to-target-paladin-ubs-20190726-p52b36

PNG: Marape’s blueprint for change in a fast vanishing honeymoon.  The establishment of a commission to fight endemic corruption in his country will also be well received.

https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/png-marape-s-blueprint-change-fast-vanishing-honeymoon

 

SAMOA:

Samoa police officer charged for acceptingbribe.  A police officer in Samoa has been arrested and charged with accepting a bribe in relation to a drug smuggling case.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/pacific/395706/samoa-police-officer-charged-for-accepting-bribe

 

FIJI:

Fiji to Teach Schoolchildren to Recognize and Resist Corruption Alongside their English, History, and Social Studies classes, Fiji’s 9 to 18-year-olds will soon be learning about integrity and the importance of recognizing and resisting corruption, as part of the Pacific island’s push to immunize an entire generation to nepotism and graft. 

https://www.occrp.org/en/27-ccwatch/cc-watch-briefs/10338-fiji-to-teach-schoolchildren-to-recognize-and-resist-corruption

Corruption exists in many forms: FICAC.  Fiji Independent CommissionAgainst Corruption (FICAC) Acting Deputy Commissioner Rashmi Aslam says corruption is known to cripple development and prosperity, wherever it dwells and as a country – Fiji cannot afford to lose the spirits of the future generations to this evil, at the launch of their National Anti-Corruption Curriculum in Suva yesterday which will be implemented in Primary and Secondary schools from Years 5 – 13.

https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/corruption-exists-in-many-forms-and-is-widespread-ficac/

 

FEDERATED STATES OF MICRONESIA:

President Panuelo Opens Workshop for the Development & Implementation of a National Anti-Corruption Strategy in the FSM.  His Excellency David W. Panuelo, President of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), addressed the participants and attendees of the Workshop for the Development and Implementation of a National Anti-Corruption Strategy for the FSM.

https://gov.fm/index.php/component/content/article/35-pio-articles/news-and-updates/123-president-panuelo-opens-workshop-for-the-development-implementation-of-a-national-anti-corruption-strategy-in-the-fsm?Itemid=177

 

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

Indonesia KPK selection / LGBTI rights connection / Viet Nam activist jailed

Anticorruption campaigners call for Jokowi to intervene in KPK race.  “Apart from the controversial figures vying for the KPK’s top posts, constitutional law expert Feri Amsari of Andalas University in West Sumatra also criticized the selection team’s decision not to include wealth reports (LHKPN) as a requirement in the selection process, adding that the President would be responsible if the KPK failed to operate effectively.”

The Jakarta Post: https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2019/07/30/anticorruption-campaigners-call-for-jokowi-to-intervene-in-kpk-race.html  

 

LGBTI+ Rights and Corruption: What’s the Connection? (Blog).  “Reduction of extortion risks and economic losses through the inclusion of LGBTI+ people are businesses’ chance to effectively match moral commitments with financial interests by engaging more stakeholders, which is CIPE’s specialty.”

James Reston/Center for International Private Enterprise: https://www.cipe.org/blog/2019/03/27/lgbti-rights-and-corruption-whats-the-connection/

 

Vietnam anti-corruption activist gets 30 months in jail.  Activist Ha Van Nam was sentenced for inciting drivers to repeatedly block a highway toll station in Bac Ninh province to protest against newly applied fees that Nam considered to be unfair for local residents.

ABC News: https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/vietnam-anti-corruption-activist-30-months-jail-64652965