[ap-intact] INFO: Pacific Anti-Corruption Updates (11 June 2015) - Solomon Islands, Nauru, Fiji

-
[Facilitator’s note: Thank you to Annika Wythes, Luisa Senibulu, and Samita Singh of the joint UNDP-UNODC PacificRegional Anti-Corruption Project for sharing these updates.]

Solomon Islands: urged to make sure ICAC is independent. Transparency Solomon Islands is calling on the government to exclude itself from election or appointment processes in the country's proposed Independent Commission Against Corruption. [Note: The workshop was organized by the joint UN Pacific Regional Anti-Corruption (UN-PRAC) Project. Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) were also represented through special permission by the Office of the Prime Minister.] http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/275654/solomons-urged-to-make-sure-icac-is-independent

Solomon Islands: Clean up Ministry of Mines. Landowning groups in Solomon Islands Rennell and Bellona province are hoping the government keeps its promise to clean out corrupt officials from the Ministry of Mines. http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/275801/solomons-to-clean-up-ministry-of-mines

Solomon Islands: Court Judgement on Money Laundering Case. The High Court will deliver its judgement for a former Central Bank Officer charged with more than 30 counts of money laundering and two counts of larceny and embezzlement this week. http://www.sibconline.com.sb/court-judgement-on-money-laundering-case-this-thursday/

Solomon Islands: Concerns over bauxite export saga. The Parliamentary Opposition Group has expressed grave concern over revelations that a senior Cabinet Minister has been roped in the bauxite export saga. http://www.sibconline.com.sb/opposition-expressed-grave-concerns-over-bauxite-export-saga/

Solomon Islands: Sasako denies links to miners. The Government has denied claims its ministers have close links with Indonesian mining firm PT Mega Bintang Borneo. http://www.solomonstarnews.com/news/national/7275-sasako-denies-links-to-miners

Solomon Islands: Fake permit exposed. Indonesian firm Bintang Borneo Limited has been caught attempting to deceive Customs with a fake export and consignment permit. http://www.solomonstarnews.com/news/6845-fake-permit-exposed

Nauru: Call for unimpeded police inquiry in bribery claims. A suspended Nauru MP is calling on the government to allow a full police inquiry into bribery allegations implicating the Justice Minister David Adeang. http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/275802/call-for-unimpeded-police-inquiry-in-nauru-bribery-claims

Nauru: Bribery allegations causing a storm. Former Nauru president Sprent Dabwido is currently a suspended member of the Opposition. http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/radio/program/pacific-beat/former-president-bribery-allegations-causing-a-storm/1456688

Fiji: FICAC tightlipped on Fiji Corrections Services investigation. The Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption is still tightlipped in relation to the ongoing investigation against the Fiji Corrections Services. http://fijivillage.com/news/FICAC-tightlipped-on-Fiji-Corrections-Services-investigation-s52r9k/

Fiji: Online fraud. Some locals have been gathering confidential information of unsuspecting persons and passing them to their overseas counterparts who then hack into bank accounts in Fiji. http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=309251

Popular posts from this blog

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 authoritarian
Read more

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