AP-INTACT

Get AP-INTACT posts on Twitter (https://twitter.com/apintactnetwork) If a link below does not work, please copy and paste the link into your browser’s address bar instead. INFO: Crowdsourcing corruption in India's maternal health services .  Mera Swasthya Mei Aawaz is a data-driven project that gives poor women in India the chance to actively monitor and record corruption. Deutsche Welle: http://www.dw.com/en/crowdsourcing-corruption-in-indias-maternal-health-services/a-19261866 INFO: Cambodian MPs look to amend Anti-Corruption Law .  The secretary of Cambodia's Lower House Public Affairs Committee has tabled a bill to amend the Anti-Corruption Law and form a new graft-busting commission. Eleven Myanmar: http://www.elevenmyanmar.com/politics/mps-look-amend-anti-corruption-law COMMENTARY: 5 steps to curtail corruption in Pakistan .  "Building accountability is not about overcoming weaknesses - it is about a strengths-based approach that draws u...

INFO: Bad drivers are a good indicator of a corrupt government .  "Bottom line: If you’re in a country where everyone drives on the sidewalk and nobody stops at stop signs, you can be pretty sure the government isn’t working right." Christopher Groskopf, Quartz: http://qz.com/666924/bad-drivers-are-a-good-indicator-of-a-corrupt-government/ INFO: Taiwan civil servants mired in corruption to be denied pensions .  The Legislative Yuan passed amendments to the Civil Service Retirement Act that would deprive corrupt civil servants of the right to pensions or recall those already paid. Alison Hsiao, Taipei Times: http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2016/04/23/2003644626 INFO: Cabinet minister says Bangladesh govt failed to take proper measures to combat corruption .  Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon says the Bangladesh government has failed to take ‘appropriate measures’ to combat corruption, adding that economic growth could have been...

Get AP-INTACT posts on Twitter ( https://twitter.com/apintactnetwork ) From the UN Pacific Regional Anti-Corruption (UN-PRAC) Project, a joint four-year initiative of the United Nations Development Programme and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, with support from the Australian Government. Updates shared by Annika Wythes, Luisa Senibulu, Samita Singh, and Mihaela Stojkoska. If a link below does not work, please copy and paste the link into your browser’s address bar instead. PNG: Opposition leader reinstated .  Papua New Guinea's opposition leader Don Polye is returning to Parliament after being stood down. http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/304735/png-opposition-leader-reinstated Thousands in PNG's Simbu call on PM to resign .  Thousands of people in the Papua New Guinea province of Simbu have called on Prime Minister Peter O'Neill to...

Get AP-INTACT posts on Twitter ( https://twitter.com/apintactnetwork ) If a link below does not work, please copy and paste the link into your browser’s address bar instead. PUBLICATION: "Lessons from Civil Resistance for the Battle against Financial Corruption" . In this book, Peter Ackerman and Shaazka Beyerle show the critical role that civic campaigns and mobilized citizens can play in countering financial corruption and advancing the struggle for global justice, transparency, and integrity. Thank you to Shaazka Beyerle for sharing her book with AP-INTACT.  Download options at: https://www.nonviolent-conflict.org/lessons-from-civil-resistance-for-the-battle-against-financial-corruption/ INFO: More credible responses needed for Singapore firms accused of bribery abroad .  Singapore companies that do business overseas need to take a good hard look at their compliance programmes, strategies, incentive systems and ...

"In my two posts last week ( here and here ), I attempted to go through all of the 41 country statements submitted by the participants in the London Anticorruption Summit held earlier this month, to see what those statements had to say about four specific issue areas highlighted by the Summit’s joint Communique : (1) accessibility (and possibly transparency) of beneficial ownership information for companies and other legal entities, (2) public procurement transparency, (3) independence, effectiveness, and transparency of national audit institutions, and (4) whistleblower protection (and encouragement)." Matthew Stephenson, editor-in-chief, Global Anticorruption Blog. https://globalanticorruptionblog.com/2016/05/24/in-the-excitement-of-the-new-lets-not-neglect-the-tried-and-true/

24 May 2016 Today's top story Global: Google offices in Paris raided by tax authorities The Guardian French investigators have raided Google’s Paris headquarters, saying the company is now under investigation for aggravated financial fraud and organised money laundering. More news Global : Swiss bank to be shut over Malaysia scandal Associated Press Brazil: Brazilian minister steps down over remarks on corruption probe Time Palestine: In tough times, most Palestinians view government...

Brazil: Brazil’s New Government Faces First Crisis Amid Corruption Probe May 24, 2016 08:00 pm Brazil’s Acting President Michel Temer is in damage-control mode as his administration faces its first political crisis with a corruption scandal that helped bring down his predecessor encroaching on his inner circle. Top Temer ally and newly-appointed Budget Minister Romero […] Read More   United States: Onetime Soccer Kingpin Jack Warner Faces $50 Million Fraud Suit May 24, 2016 07:30 pm Jack Warner, once one of the most powerful men in global soccer, is being sued for more than $50 million by the sport’s regional body in North and Central America. It is the latest legal action against the man who […] Read More   South Africa: 783 corruption charges against President Jacob Zuma not reinstated May 24, 2016 07:00 pm South Africa’s National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has decided, on 23 May, to not reinstate nearly 800 corruption charges against President Jacob Zuma, ...

WSJ - Corruption Currents: U.S. Drops Charge to Ease El Chapo’s Extradition - 23 May 2016. By Samuel Rubenfeld. http://blogs.wsj.com/riskandcompliance/2016/05/23/corruption-currents-u-s-drops-charge-to-ease-el-chapos-extradition/

Dr Michael Nest is undertaking research for the U4 Anti-Corruption Resource Centre in Norway on corruption in community development and corporate social responsibility projects related to mining . The objective is to understand the risks for corruption around these projects, and to identify what mitigation strategies appear most promising.  The final report will be publicly available on the U4 website in late 2016. Dr Nest is calling for case studies, which can be from any country.  All details can be made anonymous if necessary, e.g., country, location, mining company name, or community name. Examples of such corruption include mining companies defrauding communities of their CSR entitlements, community leaders not releasing community funds to the community (but keeping it for themselves), or government officials embezzling community development funds. Information about case studies can be submitted in English or French. Information is requested by 15 July 2016 . To sub...

Get AP-INTACT posts on Twitter ( https://twitter.com/apintactnetwork ) If a link below does not work, please copy and paste the link into your browser’s address bar instead.   INFO: NZ holds off signing up to anti-corruption agreement .  New Zealand has assured an anti-corruption summit in London that it is committed to tackling corruption despite not yet signing up to new international agreements. TVNZ: https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/nz-holds-off-signing-up-anti-corruption-agreement PUBLICATION: Book alleges corruption among doctors in India's private hospitals .  "An intriguing book — which alleges that doctors carry out bogus surgeries in order to meet sales targets and further their own profits, thus robbing patients of their hard-earned money — has created a flutter among the medical fraternity and masses alike. After it was published, even [the] Indian Medical Association members have raised their eyebrows at the alleged malpractices rampant among do...

Get AP-INTACT posts on Twitter ( https://twitter.com/apintactnetwork ) If a link below does not work, please copy and paste the link into your browser’s address bar instead. INFO: Korea graft law targets monetary gifts .  Under a new graft law, Korean public servants, journalists, and teachers will face punishment for being treated to a meal by job-related contacts if it costs more than 30,000 won ($25.71), the country’s anti-corruption commission announced. Korea JoongAng Daily: http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=3018511&cloc=joongangdaily|home|newslist1 INFO: Aussie politician warns of 'Asian facilitation [i.e., bribery] culture' .  Australian senator Bill Heffernan warns that an “Asian facilitation culture” is creeping into Australian politics made worse by the professionalisation of politics. Gabrielle Chan, The Guardian: http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/may/05/political-donations-bill-heffernan-warns-of-asian-facilitatio...

Get AP-INTACT posts on Twitter ( https://twitter.com/apintactnetwork ) From the UN Pacific Regional Anti-Corruption (UN-PRAC) Project, a joint four-year initiative of the United Nations Development Programme and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, with support from the Australian Government. Updates shared by Annika Wythes, Luisa Senibulu, Samita Singh, and Mihaela Stojkoska. If a link below does not work, please copy and paste the link into your browser’s address bar instead. Solomon Islands: MPs could keep tax free salaries .  Solomon Island MPs may yet keep their tax free salaries if an appeal against a court ruling declaring them illegal is successful. http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/304131/solomons-mps-could-keep-tax-free-salaries PM urged to press on with anti-corruption bill .  Civil society organisations in Solomo...

INFO: 'Call Me,' KPK Tells Private Sector in Fresh Efforts to End Corruption .  The Corruption Eradication Commission, or KPK will step up corruption prevention measures by teaming up with the private sector to stamp out the practice of bribing public officials. Jakarta Globe: http://jakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/call-kpk-tells-private-sector-fresh-efforts-end-corruption/ COMMENTARY: Can president-elect root out endemic corruption in the Philippines?   "Corruption is the root of all problems in the Philippines. Since Ferdinand Marcos, five presidents have been elected and, although each pledged to fight corruption, none succeeded. Indeed, two of the five were prosecuted for corruption offences. The main reason for the failure is the lack of political will at the top. This translates into a lack of support for its anti-corruption agency, the Office of the Ombudsman." Tony Kwok/South China Morning Post: http://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1943578/ca...

INFO: UNODC -- preventing, raising awareness of, detecting, investigating, and prosecuting corruption .   Providing ongoing support to developing national and regional capacities to prevent and effectively address corruption remains an important priority for the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). Learn more about UNODC's current work to fight corruption in the Southeast Asia and Pacific region: https://www.unodc.org/southeastasiaandpacific/en/what-we-do/anti-corruption/activities.html INFO: Watchdogs say Indonesian Supreme Court must address judicial corruption .  Corruption and judicial watchdogs joined forces to admonish the Supreme Court for judicial corruption that has engulfed the body and its subaltern courts with at least 35 court officials found to have been involved in corruption cases since 2002. Jakarta Globe: http://jakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/supreme-court-must-address-judicial-corruption-watchdogs/ INFO: Global corruption risks tipping ...

By Samuel Rubenfeld. http://blogs.wsj.com/riskandcompliance/2016/05/16/corruption-currents-fifa-lurches-to-new-crisis/

17 May 2016 Today's top story Tanzania: Tanzania purges 10,000 'ghost workers' in anti-corruption drive BBC Tanzania has removed more than 10,000 "ghost workers" from its public sector payroll in a crackdown on corruption. Payments to the non-existent employees had been costing the government more than $2m (£1.4m) a month, according to the prime minister's office. More news Brazil: Brazilian police accuse steelmaker Gerdau CEO of corruption Reuters Cameroon: Corr...