Pacific Anti-Corruption Updates (5 October 2019): PNG, Solomon Islands, Fiji

PNG:

Our Right to Know, Their Duty to Tell (Report/Resource).  Transparency International Papua New Guinea (TIPNG) report on the current status of Access to Public Information, covering 24 State Agencies in PNG and recommends both Policy Reforms and Legislation to address the lack of a RTI framework in the country. A stark finding was that over 90% of State agencies surveyed were unable to give public documents when requested over the counter, yet these same documents were already available online for 54% of the agencies.

https://www.transparencypng.org.pg/our-right-to-know-their-duty-to-tell/

Distrust growing within gov agencies – TIPNG.  The TIPNG Right to Information report outlined, among other things, how the lack of defined policy mechanisms in a majority of government agencies tested has bred a culture of secrecy among them.

https://postcourier.com.pg/distrust-growing-within-govt-agencies-tipng/

Thank you to Mr. Yuambari Haihuie, Policy and Advocacy Manager, Transparency International PNG for sharing the links above.

 

Businessman Lauds PM’s speech on promoting PNG’s natural resources. The Prime Minister James Marape’s UN speech delivered by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Soroi Eoe at the 74th UN General Assembly is a mission statement.

https://postcourier.com.pg/businessman-lauds-pms-speech-on-promoting-pngs-natural-resources/

PNG minister determined for police reforms. Mr Kramer told Johnny Blades that he aims to reverse the ill-discipline, corruption and politicisation of the force that has built up over the years.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/programmes/datelinepacific/audio/2018715573/png-minister-determined-for-police-reforms  

PNG Businessman arrested and charged for misusing public funds. Papua New Guinea  National Fraud & Anti-Corruption Directorate arrested and charged Managing Director for Rural Links Limited Mr. Kevin Atkinson Guba aged 48 of Ewore village, Sohe District, Oro Province.

https://news.pngfacts.com/2019/10/png-businessman-arrested-and-charged.html

 

SOLOMON ISLANDS:

Fujiyama told to step down. “He has been involving in corruption and fraudulent activities in our NOCSI and national federation’s level,” they claimed in the letter.

https://www.solomonstarnews.com/index.php/sports/national/item/22037-fujiyama-told-to-step-down

 

FIJI:

Trio facing fraud-related charges against FNPF granted bail. Three men charged with multiple courts of fraud related offences against the Fiji National Provident Fund were granted bail by the Magistrates Court in Suva.

https://fijisun.com.fj/2019/10/01/trio-facing-fraud-related-charges-against-fnpf-granted-bail/

 

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

Marine Destrez, Anti-Corruption Specialist – Pacific a.i., UNDP, marine.destrez@undp.org 

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

Anti-corruption law revisions / Ericsson FCPA fines / Iran President's brother

Revise graft laws from time to time (Opinion).  “…the best corruption law will not stay the best for long. It will have to be reviewed so that it is able to sustain its deterrent effect on the bribers and the corrupt.”

Datuk Seri Akhbar Satar/New Straits Times:   https://www.nst.com.my/opinion/columnists/2019/09/525434/revise-graft-laws-time-time

 

Ericsson Expects to Pay $1 Billion in U.S. Corruption Probes.  Ericsson AB said it expects to pay $1 billion to resolve investigations by U.S. authorities into business ethics breaches in six countries, including China, Indonesia, and Viet Nam amongst others, in one of the costliest corruption cases on record.

Dave McCombs and Niklas Magnusson/Bloomberg: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-09-25/ericsson-prepared-to-pay-1-billion-to-resolve-u-s-probes

 

Iranian President’s brother sentenced to 5 years for corruption.  The brother of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has been sentenced to five years in prison for corruption and bribery. Gholamhossein Esmaili, a spokesman for the judiciary, told reporters that Hossein Fereidoun, Rouhani's brother, might face further charges in another case, though he gave no details.

Voice of America: https://www.voanews.com/middle-east/iranian-presidents-brother-sentenced-5-years-corruption

Indonesia KPK case / China's corrupt meritocracy / Malaysia SPV 2030

Indonesian Anticorruption Institutions at Risk, Part 1: The Significance of the KPK’s First Acquittal (Blog).  “An important precursor to [recent] events was the KPK’s first loss in court. Until this past July, the KPK had not, since its establishment in 2003, lost any of the hundreds of cases it had brought to full trial.”

Simon Butt/The Global Anticorruption Blog:  https://globalanticorruptionblog.com/2019/10/02/guest-post-indonesian-anticorruption-institutions-at-risk-part-1-the-significance-of-the-kpks-first-acquittal/ 

 

China’s Corrupt Meritocracy (Opinion).  “What both camps fail to grasp is the symbiotic relationship between corruption and performance in China’s fiercely competitive political system.”

Yuen Yuen Ang/Project Syndicate: https://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/china-corrupt-meritocracy-by-yuen-yuen-ang-2019-10

 

‘Corruption and abuse must stop’.  “The government intends to hit the ground running with Shared Prosperity Vision 2030 (SPV 2030) and will not hesitate to “amputate the cancerous limbs” of corruption and abuse of power which had failed past policies, says Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.”

The Star: https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2019/10/06/corruption-and-abuse-must-stop 

Universal Health Coverage / Barclays Asia-Pacific hiring / Japan electricity execs

Corruption: A neglected obstacle to achieving UHC.  “According to…Transparency International, corruption in the health care industry “kills an estimated 140,000 children a year, fuels the global rise in anti-microbial resistance, and hinders the fight against HIV/AIDS and other diseases.” In total, the report links corruption to annual losses of more than $500 billion, which it notes is more than it would cost to bring about UHC worldwide.”

Malia Politzer/Devex: https://www.devex.com/news/corruption-a-neglected-obstacle-to-achieving-uhc-95603 

 

Barclays pays SEC $6.3 million to settle ‘referral hiring’ FCPA violations.  Barclays PLC paid the SEC $6.3 million to settle US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act offenses related to the hiring of relatives of public officials in Asia. From at least 2009 until August 2013, businesses within Barclays Asia Pacific Region (APAC) hired 117 job candidates referred by or connected to foreign government officials or non-government clients.

Harry Cassin/The FCPA Blog: https://www.fcpablog.com/blog/2019/9/27/barclays-pays-sec-63-million-to-settle-referral-hiring-fcpa.html

 

Kansai Electric to disclose names of 20 executives involved in Fukui nuclear scandal.  “Kansai Electric Power Co. plans to disclose the names of 20 executives who received money and goods from a former deputy mayor of a town that hosted one of its nuclear plants… the company is also expected to discuss its plans to set up an investigation panel to check whether similar cases exist in departments other than those related to nuclear power plants, sources familiar with the matter said.”

The Japan Times: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/09/30/national/kansai-electric-20-executives-fukui-nuclear-scandal-corruption/#.XZRwLkYzY2w

Transparent procurement systems / Viet Nam new regulations / Myanmar business ease

Transparent procurement systems: good for the public, the private sector and the SDGs (Blog).  “To achieve the ambitious task of reaching the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, our procurement systems must become ever more transparent and accountable.”

CoST: http://infrastructuretransparency.org/news/transparent-procurement-systems-better-for-business-and-communities-alike/

 

Vietnam Issues New Regulations Implementing Its Anti-corruption Law, Effective 15 August 2019.  “Although the provisions in the New Regulations pertaining to gifts do not impose affirmative obligations on gift givers in the private sector, such regulations are important to keep in view because a gift given to a public official will have to be disclosed by the official if it was given for an unlawful purpose.”

Jeff Olson/Conventus Law: http://www.conventuslaw.com/report/vietnam-issues-new-regulations-implementing-its/

 

Myanmar Among World Bank’s Top 20 for Business Ease Improvements.  “…a new company law is also strengthening minority investor protection by mandating greater disclosure of transactions with interested parties, increasing director liability and requiring greater corporate transparency.”

Nan Lwin/The Irrawaddy: https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/myanmar-among-world-banks-top-20-business-ease-improvements.html 

Indonesia reform setbacks / Afghanistan elections atmosphere / Philippines political dynasties

Reform setbacks, not KPK, can hamper investment.  Although in the short-term the controversial bills and reform setbacks are likely to have little direct impact on investment, in the longer run they will create an unfavorable business climate that increases the risk related to investing in Indonesia, from regulatory uncertainty to a deteriorating democracy.

Esther Samboh/The Jakarta Post:  https://www.thejakartapost.com/academia/2019/09/27/reform-setbacks-not-kpk-can-hamper-investment.html 

 

With Vote Over, Afghanistan Faces Possible Political Chaos.  Before the polls, the U.S. issued stiff warnings against fraud and even seemed to take direct aim at Ghani's government refusing to pay more than $160 million in aid projects directly to the government saying it was too corrupt.

Kathy Gannon/NBC Washington: https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/politics/Vote-Afghanistan-Possible-Political-Chaos-561720531.html 

 

Political dynasties, democratic decay in Philippines (Opinion).  “The reality now is that many local communities in the Philippines continue to suffer inept and corrupt dynastic leaders because those who can push for reforms but do not have the inherited political advantage are in effect denied the right to run for public office because of the monarchical nature of local politics.”

Michael Henry Yusingco/Asia Times: https://www.asiatimes.com/2019/09/opinion/political-dynasties-democratic-decay-in-philippines/

Right to information / IMF programmes' effect / Indonesia law reconsidered

Real lives, real stories: The Power of Information in Asia Pacific (Resource).  “In this publication, we focus on the people who make right to information laws come to life, and who use them as tools to fight corruption. In the following pages, you will find the stories of citizens from 10 countries across the Asia Pacific region who have used their right to information to demand accountability from their governments.”

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

 

How IMF programmes can increase corruption (Opinion).  “But the IMF also needs to avoid mandating policy reforms that weaken state institutions. And it must find ways to compensate for losses of privileges incurred by powerful interest groups. Otherwise, corruption will thrive.”

Bernhard Reinsberg and Thomas Stubbs/The Conversation: http://theconversation.com/how-imf-programmes-can-increase-corruption-123718

 

After protests, Indonesia president considers dropping anti-graft law.  Indonesian President Joko Widodo said he is considering revoking a new law governing the country's anti-corruption agency, which has alarmed activists and helped drive the biggest student protests in decades.

Channel NewsAsia: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/indonesia-protests-joko-widodo-anti-corruption-law-11946974