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United States: Mead Johnson to Pay $12 Million to Settle Foreign Corruption Charges Published on Jul 29, 2015 11:30 pm     Switzerland: UBS’s legal reserves dip; Puerto Rico probe widened Published on Jul 29, 2015 11:00 pm     United States: Western Union to boost anti-money laundering efforts – exec Published on Jul 29, 2015 10:30 pm     Romania: Romanian officials raid homes in medicines corruption probe Published on Jul 29, 2015 10:00 pm     Brazil: CEO of Brazil’s Eletronuclear Arrested in Wide Corruption Probe Published on Jul 29, 2015 09:30 pm     United States: Discord Flares on New York State Ethics Panel Published on Jul 29, 2015 09:00 pm     Ukraine: Ukraine poised to bring corruption case against Yanukovych Published on Jul 29, 2015 08:30 pm     China: Chinese Regulators Probe Monday’s Stocks Selloff as Rout Deepens Published on Jul 29, 2015 08:00 pm   ...

WSJ - Corruption Currents: Jack Warner Gets More Time to Fight Extradition (28 July 2015). By Samuel Rubenfeld. http://blogs.wsj.com/riskandcompliance/2015/07/28/corruption-currents-jack-warner-gets-more-time-to-fight-extradition/

29 July 2015 Today's top story Tanzania : Rampant corruption keeps the fruits of the many in the hands of the few The Guardian Fears are growing that endemic graft in Tanzania will deny the majority of its people a fair share of the wealth generated by the country’s natural gas riches More news Canada : Ex-Montreal mayor Gerald Tremblay’s home searched by anti-corruption unit The Globe and Mail China : China says recovered 38.7 billion yuan in graft losses Reuters Germany : Germany clam...

"With over 250 million people, Indonesia has the world’s fourth-largest population and the largest in Southeast Asia. While the government’s vision for information and communications technology (ICT) is 'to bring into reality a modern information society, prosperous and highly competitive, with strong support from ICT', the current development is still a long way off this goal." Read the op-ed by Sri Ranjini Mei Hua and Ibrahim Kholilul Rohman, in The Jakarta Post. http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/07/27/challenges-e-government-implementation.html

Cambodia's Anti-Corruption Unit has signed memorandums of understanding with state-owned energy provider Electricite du Cambodge (EdC) and the European Chamber of Commerce pledging to work with these entities to prevent the use of corrupt practices in business dealings. Read the story by Ayanna Runcie and Sok Chan, in Phnom Penh Post. http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/eurocham-edc-take-anti-corruption-pledge

[Facilitator's note: Contributed with thanks by Samantha Grant, Regional Coordinator for Asia-Pacific, Transparency International.] In a press release published 28 July 2015, the Transparency International Secretariat in Berlin, Germany, said "the on-going investigation of the 1Malaysia Development Bhd. Investment fund…highlights the need to strengthen the country’s anti-corruption laws." Read the full press release from Transparency International. http://www.transparency.org/news/pressrelease/malaysia_anti_corruption_measures_need_strengthening

An updated version of Matthew Stephenson’s anti-corruption bibliography is now available at http://www.law.harvard.edu/faculty/mstephenson/2015PDFs/Stephenson%20Corruption%20Bibliography%20July%202015.pdf .  Stephenson is editor-in-chief of the Global Anticorruption Blog ( http://globalanticorruptionblog.com/ ).

“Three aspects of the economy that adversely affect the nation are being reviewed widely in the mainstream media. The Finance Minister openly admitted recently that corruption eats up 2-3 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP) while a Washington-based research organisation revealed that 1.1 per cent of the country's GDP is lost by way of capital flight to foreign countries.” Read the editorial by Sayed Kamaluddin, in The Financial Express. http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/2015/07/21/100943

Louis Berger International, a New Jersey-based construction management company that pleaded guilty to bribing officials in India, Indonesia, Vietnam and Kuwait to secure government construction management contracts, has agreed to pay over $17 million in penalties to the US Government. Read the story in Sputnik. http://sputniknews.com/us/20150718/1024769171.html

Former New South Wales (Australia) Independent Commission Against Corruption senior counsel Geoffrey Watson calls for the creation of a strong and independent federal anti-corruption commission in this lecture for the Cranlana Programme 2015 Alumni Speaker Series. Read the edited extract of Geoffrey Watson’s speech, in Australian Broadcasting Corporation. http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/bigideas/the-invisible-worm-how-corruption-invades-destroys-a-community/6618026

“Singapore’s regime for anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) meets global standards - and the central bank's regulation and supervision of the financial sector has been evaluated by the International Monetary Fund as “among the best globally” said the Monetary Authority of Singapore.” Read the story in Channel News Asia. http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/business/singapore/singapore-takes-tough/1986936.html#.VadvwgSYKzo.twitter

“In this post I want to emphasize just how remarkably Singapore—and its fellow Asian city-state Hong Kong—have been in fighting corruption by addressing one of the most common observations raised by those who would either minimize the significance of this achievement, or raise doubts about whether other countries can profitably learn from Singapore and Hong Kong’s experience.” Read the post by Matthew Stephenson, in the Global Anticorruption Blog. http://globalanticorruptionblog.com/2015/07/16/singapore-and-hong-kong-are-small-so-what/

China’s top anti-graft authority uses a mobile app -- available in Apple's App Store and in various Android stores-- to encourage the public to pass on evidence of officials' misconduct. Read the story in China News Service. http://www.ecns.cn/2015/07-21/173780.shtml

[Facilitator's note: Thank you to Piangtawan Phanprasit, International Affairs Officer, Office of the National Anti-Corruption 
Commission of Thailand, for sharing this information.] The National Anti-Corruption Commission of Thailand (NACC) welcomed a delegation from the American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative (ABA ROLI) to the NACC Headquarters in Nonthaburi province. Delegation members came from Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan. They includedhigh-level state officials from prosecutor’s offices, the judiciary and ministries who visited Thailand during 19 – 26 July 2015 as part of the ABA ROLI criminal law programme. NACC Commissioner Prof. Pakdee Pothisiri presided over the meeting between the NACC and the delegation from Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan. He was accompanied by Deputy Secretary-General Mr. Chairat Khanittabutr and executives of the Office of the NACC. In his welcome remarks, Prof. Pothisiri outlined the powers and duties of the NACC as well as an...

Nepal’s Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has asked Parliament and senior leaders of major political parties to retain in the new constitution the agency’s existing powers to investigate into improper conduct of public servants. Read the story in The Kathmandu Post. http://www.ekantipur.com/the-kathmandu-post/2015/07/15/news/ciaa-doesnt-want-its-powers-curbed/278462.html

“If improved efficiency is all that we want, then I suggest we are wasting time and enormous scarce resources [on information and communications technology]. If, on the other hand, we combine efficiency with confronting corruption in public life, then we will be getting more out of e-government. “ Read the op-ed by Tunku Abdul Aziz, director of the International Institute for Public Ethics and chairman of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Advisory Board, in New Straits Times Online. http://www.nst.com.my/node/91958

This is a brief overview of recent anti-corruption developments in the Asia-Pacific region in the first half of 2015, with particular focus on Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, and Vietnam. Read the article by Weiyi Tan and Clarence Ding, in Global Compliance News. http://globalcompliancenews.com/mid-year-review-2015-anti-corruption-asia-pacific-region-20150719/?utm_source=wysija&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=weeklynewsletter

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission has denied allegations in the news media that the agency had leaked information from its probe on 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) and the Prime Minister’s wife bank accounts. Read the story by Rahmah Ghazali, in The Star. http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2015/07/21/macc-rubbishes-claims/

[Facilitator’s note: Thank you to Dr. Badiul Alam Majumdar, secretary of SHUJAN: Citizens for Good Governance, Bangladesh, for sharing these insights on the Tk. 2,95,100 crore budget for FY 2015-16 recently proposed by the Bangladesh government.] “Some experts have been calling the budget too ambitious – even the finance minister called it 'truly ambitious' – questioning the ability of the government to implement it." Read the commentary by Dr. Badiul Alam Majumdar, in The Daily Star. http://www.thedailystar.net/op-ed/dream-budgets-potential-nightmarish-consequences-100336

[Facilitator’s note: Thank you to Orawan Phuwatharadol, International Affairs Officer, Office of the National Anti-Corruption Commission of Thailand, for sharing this information.] The Office of the National Anti-Corruption Commission of Thailand has entered into a Cooperation Agreement with the International Organization for Migration, Thailand, in order to overcome shortcomings in the knowledge and awareness of the relationship between migration and corruption. Read the full press advisory in the NACC website. http://www.nacc.go.th/download/article/article_20150721162548.pdf

[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.] Regional: Pacific parliamentarians discuss corruption. Pacific parliamentarians gathered in Nadi to discuss what they can do to make the region free from corruption . www.fbc.com.fj/fiji/31336/pacific-parliamentarians-discuss-corruption#sthash.I94zequA.dpuf Corruption undermines democracy, says Luveni. Corruption is undeniably one of the most serious impediments to human development, says the Speaker of Parliament Dr Jiko Luveni. http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=314633 Fiji: FICAC independent. Parliament cannot direct the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) to prosecute someone, says Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum. http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=314797 Committees Must Be Apolitical, A-G Explains. Acting Prime Minister, Attorney-Ge...

A Bill that makes accepting or giving bribes by foreign public officials a criminal offence entailing imprisonment of up to seven years among other strict penal provisions will be moved afresh in Parliament by the Indian Government. Read the story in Daily News and Analysis (DNA). http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-government-to-move-fresh-bill-to-tackle-bribery-by-foreign-officials-2106313

[Facilitator’s note: Thank you to Professor José Zalaquett, Head of the MOOC Chile Project, Diego Portales University, Chile, for sharing this information. AP-INTACT shares this information strictly as a service to members. To know more, you may click on the links below. Please do not send your query or application to AP-INTACT. AP-INTACT is not responsible for the accuracy of the posted information and is not involved in the registration and programme practices/decisions of the sponsoring organisation.] On August 31st Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) Chile ( http://moocchile.com ), will launch a free online course on Transparency and Anti-Corruption (see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nm5KUmMx8Y4 for a promotional video about the course). The course consists of 33 classes averaging 10-12 minutes each.  Classes are taught in Spanish by distinguished Latin American and international professors and will have Spanish, English, Chinese and Arabic subtitles. Additional course materi...

“Set against a backdrop of an exceptionally low rate of prosecution by Australian authorities of foreign corrupt practices – only one prosecution relating to alleged foreign bribery offences has been brought in Australia to date – the Senate inquiry highlights the Australian Government’s increasing focus on escalating investigations into and prosecutions of its citizens who engage in unlawful business practices overseas.” Read the essay by Ula Strus and Catherine Williams, in Mondaq. http://www.mondaq.com/australia/x/413592/White+Collar+Crime+Fraud/The+implications+of+the+Senate+inquiry+into+corrupt+practices+for+Australians+operating+overseas

“For years, Thailand has put its hopes on the National Anti-Corruption Commission in its battle against fraud, but since the problem has grown more convoluted, the anti-graft body – in its current form – may not be up to the task.” Read the analysis by Piyaporn Wongruang/The Nation, in Thai Visa News. http://news.thaivisa.com/thailand/thai-analysis-anti-graft-bodies-needs-to-work-better-with-other-state-bodies/107916/

[Facilitator’s note: Thank you to Ilham Mohamed, Regional Coordinator for Asia-Pacific, Transparency International, for sharing this information.] “Fighting corruption in a warzone is not easy...especially true in a place like Afghanistan.” Read the article in Transparency International. http://www.transparency.org/news/feature/the_long_view_for_afghanistan_toppling_corruption_takes_time_effort_and_tar

[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: PAC scrutinizes ministry over accounts. The Ministry of Finance has come under the microscope of the Public Accounts Committee. http://fijione.tv/pac-scrutinises-ministry-over-accounts/#sthash.FvhUACE6.l6vJEtjH.dpuf Cocaine worth over $15-M intercepted near Vuda Marina. More than $15 million worth of cocaine has been intercepted in a joint operation between the Fiji Police Force and the Australian Federal Police with the assistance of the Fiji Revenue and Customs Authority in the Western Division. http://fijivillage.com/news-feature/Cocaine-worth-over-15M-intercepted-near-Vuda-Marina-5r29ks/ Cook Islands: Political Reform Must Precede Public Service Reform. Reform of the Cook Islands’ Public Service cannot begin before the issue of political reform is tackled head-on, say Opposition MPs. http://pidp.eastwest...

“The question is not whether National Accountability Bureau (NAB) is good or bad? The concern is whether it has been effective.” Read the op-ed by Samson Simon Sharaf, a political economist and a television anchorperson, in Nation. http://nation.com.pk/columns/11-Jul-2015/nabbing-the-nab

“No doubt social media platforms can be useful in the fight against corruption. Nonetheless, I’m cautious about overstating the long-term impact that social media might have on corruption in the Philippines. After all, the Philippines has had an active free press for decades, and past administrations have frequently been challenged by civilian participation and condemnation of corrupt practices. Can we really rely on social media to effect lasting change?” Read the post by Beatriz Paterno, a Harvard Law School student, in the Global Anticorruption Blog. http://globalanticorruptionblog.com/2015/07/10/facebook-fever-is-not-enough-the-role-of-social-media-in-the-philippines/

According to Xinhua, the chief of China's anti-graft watchdog called for more severe punishments and stronger discipline for ruling Communist Party members, state media reported on Friday, as President Xi Jinping's anti-corruption drive enters its third year. Read the story in Reuters. http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/07/10/us-china-corruption-idUSKCN0PK1AG20150710

“India’s Supreme Court ordered the country’s Central Bureau of Investigation to examine a corruption scandal of astounding proportions, even by India’s terrible standards.” Read the full editorial in the New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/13/opinion/dangerous-corruption-in-india.html?_r=0

How Nepalis harnessed the power of reality TV to strike a blow against corruption. Read the article by Blair Glencorse, Suman Parajuli, in Foreign Policy. https://foreignpolicy.com/2015/07/09/integrity-gets-great-ratings-nepal-corruption/

“A candid acceptance of the finance minister regarding corruption's impact on Bangladesh's economic growth is noteworthy. A departure from the usual feel-good presentation of the economy by a member of the government is also rare in our country. Recently, the finance minister said that 2 -3 percent of our GDP is lost due to corruption. However, [Transparency International Bangladesh] thinks that such loss constitute at least 5 percent of the GDP if we add large public procurement along with corruption in health, education, police and judiciary.” Read the op-ed by Dr Fahmida Khatun, Research Director, Centre for Policy Dialogue, Bangladesh, in The Daily Star. http://www.thedailystar.net/op-ed/cost-corruption-111523

Government officials and foreigners could face severe punishment for corruption -- with the threat of execution under a new amendment to Thailand’s anti-graft law. Read the story in The Nation. http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Severe-penalties-in-changes-to-anti-graft-law-30264329.html

The co-founder of Bantay.ph, an anti-corruption NGO in the Philippines founded in 2011, has been named by Asia Society to the Asia 21 Young Leaders Class of 2015, the newest members of the region's preeminent network of young leaders from across the Asia-Pacific. Read the story in Asia Society. http://asiasociety.org/philippines/filipino-named-new-asia-21-young-leader

Malaysia’s opposition Democratic Action Party said an international anti-corruption conference featuring Datuk Seri Najib Razak to be held in Putrajaya in September should be cancelled as Malaysia is under scrutiny over a debt-ridden state investment firm and allegations of embezzlement involving the prime minister. Read the story in The Malaysian Insider. http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/cancel-anti-graft-conference-malaysians-already-ashamed-enough-says-dap

A team called Tax Inspectors Without Borders will begin helping developing countries deal with the flood of income to low-tax jurisdictions once it’s established next week by the United Nations and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Read the story by Alan Katz, in Bloomberg Business. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-07-08/tax-inspectors-shrug-off-borders-to-track-multinational-evasion

China’s Ministry of Education named and shamed multiple university employees this week who had broken rules as they relate to “righteous life and work styles,” a Communist Party-phrase for a breach against rules and regulations about acceptable behavior outside of the classroom, China’s state-run Xinhua News Agency reported. Red the story by Michelle FlorCruz, in International Business Times. http://www.ibtimes.com/chinas-government-anti-corruption-campaign-now-targeting-university-faculty-illegal-1997914

United States: Louis Berger International Pays $17.1 Million in Bribe Case Published on Jul 20, 2015 11:00 pm     Asia: Banks vie to build up Asia compliance teams Published on Jul 20, 2015 11:00 pm     World: IRS Probes Singapore Asset Manager Published on Jul 20, 2015 10:30 pm     United States: US SEC launches civil probe into FIFA bribery case: Report Published on Jul 20, 2015 10:00 pm     China: China tightens grip on internet financing platforms Published on Jul 20, 2015 09:30 pm     Australia: Former CFMEU official Fihi Kivalu pleads not guilty to bribery, after arrest following trade union royal commission appearance Published on Jul 20, 2015 09:00 pm     World: Former FIFA Vice President Jeffrey Webb Pleads Not Guilty to Corruption Charges Published on Jul 20, 2015 08:30 pm     Ireland: Nama €30k ‘bribe’ man in earlier Garda probe Published on Jul 20, 2015 08...