[ap-intact] INFO: Pacific Anti-Corruption Updates (14 Feb 2015) - Vanuatu, Tonga, Fiji, Solomon Islands

-

[Facilitator’s note: Thank you to Annika Wythes, Luisa Senibulu, and Samita Singh of the joint UNDP-UNODC Pacific Regional Anti-Corruption Project, for these updates.]
Vanuatu: Bribery case vs Former PM to begin in March. A high-profile political bribery case in Vanuatu is expected to begin on March the 16th. http://pidp.eastwestcenter.org/pireport/2015/February/02-11-18.htm
Tonga: Woman pleads guilty to 39 forgery charges. A former travel consultant who changed her plea to guilty in relation to 39 charges of forgery and knowingly dealing with forged documents for visa applications was remanded in custody for sentencing on 06 March. http://matangitonga.to/2015/02/11/woman-pleads-guilty-39-forgery-charges
Fiji: Director for Fiji Museum charged with abuse of office. The Director for Fiji Museum Sagale Buadromo has been charged with one count of abuse of office, one count of extortion and one count for obtaining financial advantage. http://fijivillage.com/news/Director-for-Fiji-Museum-charged-with-abuse-of-office-2kr59s
Fiji: Terror finance. A national assessment will be undertaken in the country on money laundering and terrorist financing risks from this month. http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=294695
Fiji: Tikolevu challenges his staff.Fiji Revenue and Customs Authority's chief executive officer Jitoko Tikolevu has challenged his staff to maintain integrity in everything they do while dealing with revenue and customs issues. http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=294849
Solomon Islands: Businesswoman stands trial. Prominent businesswoman, Mary Chow is standing trial for the second time around for four counts of perjury charges in the Honiara Magistrates’ Court. http://www.solomonstarnews.com/news/national/5946-businesswoman-stands-trial
Solomon Islands: Singapore Ambassador presented PM with anti-corruption books.During a courtesy call to Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, Singapore’s Ambassador to the Pacific Islands Forum presented anti-corruption books and invited the Solomons government to visit his country to learn how the Singapore Independent Commission Against Corruption works. http://www.sibconline.com.sb/singapore-ambassador-presented-pm-with-anti-corruption-books/

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

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

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