Pacific Anti-Corruption Updates (4 July 2014): PNG, Solomon Islands, Fiji

-
[Facilitator's note: With thanks to Tony Prescott, Annika Wythes, Isikeli Valemei, Luisa Senibulu, and Samita Singh of the joint UNDP-UNODC Pacific Regional Anti-Corruption Project, for providing these updates.]

PNG PM sacks Solicitor General. Peter O'Neill has sacked another senior official seen to be supporting an arrest warrant against him for corruption.
http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/radio/program/pacific-beat/png-pm-sacks-solicitor-general/1336444

PNG PM O’Neil vow to fight court battle to last breath, Acting Solicitor General removed. Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O’Neil has vowed to fight court battle to his last breath to defend himself from the allegations made against him with the warrant of arrest. http://www.pina.com.fj/?p=pacnews&m=read&o=141003228953b2095fea0d94128d40

FICAC charges research officer. A senior research officer at the Koronivia Research Station has been charged for a series of offences by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption. http://www.fbc.com.fj/fiji/21007/ficac-charges-research-officer

POLOSO IS JUST A ‘TOY BOY’. Lawyer: Jailed accused was used by others to steal $1.5m of state funds.
A man jailed for defrauding the state of more than $1.5 million was just a “toy boy” used by others in a grand scheme that saw more than $10 million stolen from the Ministry of Health. http://www.solomonstarnews.com/news/national/2698-poloso-is-just-a-toy-boy-lawyer-jailed-accused-was-used-by-others-to-steal-1-5m-of-state-funds

Victory for anti-corruption. The sentencing of John Poloso for defrauding the state of more than $1.5 million sends a strong message to the public according to Transparency Solomon Islands (TSI). http://www.solomonstarnews.com/news/national/2791-victory-for-anti-corruption


Are there moves afoot to topple another Vanuatu PM? Vanuatu may be heading for another no confidence motion against a sitting prime minister. http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/radio/program/pacific-beat/are-there-moves-afoot-to-topple-another-vanuatu-pm/1335656

Popular posts from this blog

Middle East & North Africa - Ukraine - Sri Lanka

-
Corruption fuels ongoing conflict. The Middle East and North Africa has been in a decline on the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) for years. The region is also ranked as the "least peaceful region" according to the Global Peace Index. Transparency International (TI) argues that corruption, conflict, and security are profoundly intertwined. TI: https://www.transparency.org/en/news/cpi-2022-middle-east-north-africa-corruption-fuels-ongoing-conflict   [Opinion] Ukraine's corruption purge is setting the stage for private investment-driven recovery. Corruption is regarded as a key threat to the Ukrainian economy, depriving public budgets and discouraging foreign direct investments (FDI). The current administration has taken strong anti-corruption action, and the country has witnessed a significant increase in FDI in recent years, says author. DevDiscourse: https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/business/2353089-ukraines-corruption-purge-setting-stage-...
Read more

Global - Sub-Saharan Africa - Turkey & Syria

-
Invisible Trillions review: Global capitalism operates beyond the rule of law and threatens democracy. Raymond W. Baker's new book "Invisible Trillions" argues that "secrecy has become as important for corporations as transparent and taxable profits used to be". "Only radical improvements across the globe in financial transparency and accountability, and in regulatory capacity and integrity, can break this cycle of political decay and despair". The Conversation: https://theconversation.com/invisible-trillions-review-global-capitalism-operates-beyond-the-rule-of-law-and-threatens-democracy-199311   [Blog] The dynamics of violent extremism in sub-Saharan Africa. There is no better environment for the expansion of violent extremist groups than a vacuum in state authority. These groups begin to compete with the state and may even be initially attractive to communities weary of years of lawlessness, corruption, and chaos according to autho...
Read more

The Pacific - Nepal - Eastern Europe & Central Asia

-
[Blog] How are perceptions of corruption in seven small Pacific countries? Larger Pacific Island neighbors are often garnering the lion's share of attention both from researchers and policy makers. How are the experiences of corruption in countries like Tuvalu, Tokelau, Niue, the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), The Cook Islands, Palau, and Nauru? DevPolicy Blog: https://devpolicy.org/perceptions-of-corruption-in-seven-small-pacific-island-countries-20230223/   [Opinion] Two decades of new anti-corruption law in Nepal: Why it missed its mark. According to a Nepalese journalist, the Anti-Corruption law and Prevention of Corruption act of 2002 laid the foundation for numerous investigations, scandals, and court cases. To a large extent, they did however fail to enable significant conviction and return of assets. Online Khabar: https://english.onlinekhabar.com/anti-corruption-law-missing-target.html   [Blog] Growing security risks and authorit...
Read more