[ap-intact] INFO: Pacific Anti-Corruption Updates (20 June 2015) – Fiji, Nauru, Solomon Islands, Tonga, PNG

-
[Facilitator’s note: Thank you to Annika Wythes, Luisa Senibulu, and Samita Singh of the joint UNDP-UNODC Pacific Regional Anti-Corruption Project for sharing these updates.]
 
Fiji: Judge to sum up alleged scam case. High Court Judge, Justice Paul Madigan will sum up the alleged $3 million scam case before the four assessors retire behind closed doors and come back with their verdict. http://fijivillage.com/news-feature/Judge-to-sum-up-alleged-scam-case-on-Friday-9ks52r/
 
Fiji: FICAC Prosecutor says Mohammed was involved in the falsification of invoices. FICAC Prosecutor Rashmi Aslam has told the four assessors in the alleged $3 million scam that the first accused, Feroz Jan Mohammed was involved in the falsification of invoices. http://fijivillage.com/news/FICAC-Prosecutor-says-Mohammed-was-involved-in-the-falsification-of-invoices-59k2rs
 
Nauru: Opposition MP Arrested At Corruption Protest. Protests have erupted outside Nauru's parliament in a response to government corruption revealed last week, with an opposition MP arrested. http://pidp.eastwestcenter.org/pireport/2015/June/06-17-01.htm
 
Solomon Islands: Taro trial to close June 24.Closing submissions into the case of a top female police officer accused of stealing $100,000 belonging to her husband’s tribe will be made in court on June 24. http://www.solomonstarnews.com/news/national/7338-taro-trial-to-close-june-24
 
Tonga: Questions over more spending in PM's office. The Speaker of the House in Tonga has questioned a nearly 100,000 US dollar increase in the budget of the Prime Minister's Office for the new financial year. http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/276356/questions-over-more-spending-in-tonga-pm%27s-office

PNG: Former police chief faces jail for failing to arrest country's prime minister.The former police commissioner of Papua New Guinea is facing five years in jail after being convicted of failing to act on an arrest warrant for the country’s prime minister. http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jun/18/former-papua-new-guinea-police-chief-faces-prison-time

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