[ap-intact] INFO: Pacific Anti-Corruption Updates (27 June 2015) – Tonga, Fiji, PNG, Palau, Nauru

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[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.]

Tonga:

United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) Awareness Training for Media. Corruption is a destructive phenomenon across the world, including in the Pacific Islands, and threatens the region’s sustainable development. http://parliament.gov.to/media-centre/latest-news/latest-news-in-english/363-united-nation-convention-against-corruption-uncac-awareness-training-for-tonga-media

Fiji:

Four sentenced. The High Court has sentenced four men found guilty of a 3 million dollar scam at the former Department of National Roads. http://www.fbc.com.fj/fiji/30595/bribery

Corruption claims. No allegations of corruption raised in the Auditor-General's report will be considered out-of-date by the Public Accounts Committee. http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=310994

FICAC says complaints were not submitted to them. The Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption has today stated that most of the allegations of fraud or abuse of office and corruption complaints made in the Auditor General’s reports from 2007 to 2009 were not submitted to FICAC. http://fijivillage.com/news/FICAC-says-complaints-were-not-submitted-to-them-9sr52k/

PNG:

Steering corrupt cash into Australia from PNG – a how-to guide. Australia has been exposed as a safe haven for corrupt funds from overseas after a pair of top lawyers were caught on video explaining how regional leaders steal money from their own people and park it in bank accounts here. http://www.smh.com.au/national/steering-corrupt-cash-into-australia-from-png-a-howto-guide-20150623-ghv1sx.html

Palau:

Oceania Customs Organisation meets in Palau to address challenges of border security in the region. The 17th annual Oceania Customs Organization (OCO) conference is currently underway in Palau's capital Koror, where delegates from OCO member countries, is meeting for three days to engage and address the status and challenges of border security, revenue collections, trade facilitation and communication and coordination between stakeholder agencies. http://www.pina.com.fj/?p=pacnews&m=read&o=1790852017558a37f307542fc195d0

Nauru:

International parliament group. An organisation representing parliaments around the world, the Inter-Parliamentary Union, says it plans to look carefully into the situation in Nauru's parliament. http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/277035/international-parliament-group-to-tackle-nauru

Forum called on to censure Nauru for free speech crackdown. 
Australia and New Zealand should back the Pacific Islands Forum to censure Nauru for its recent crackdown on free speech, a former magistrate in Nauru has said. http://pidp.eastwestcenter.org/pireport/2015/June/06-24-01.htm

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