Pacific Anti-Corruption Updates – Tonga, Fiji, French Polynesia, Cook Islands, and Vanuatu

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These updates are provided by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Regional Anti-Corruption Project for Southeast Asia, and the joint UNODC - United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Pacific Regional Anti-Corruption (UN-PRAC) Project, with support of the Australian Government.
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TONGA

Tongan noble calls for anti-corruption action.  A noble MP has called on Tonga's government to stop delaying the appointment of the country's first Anti-Corruption commissioner.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/315623/tongan-noble-calls-for-anti-corruption-action


FIJI

Former Fiji Commerce Commission CEO charged with abuse of office.  Former CEO of Fiji Commerce Commission Bobby Maharaj has appeared in the Suva Magistrates Court on a charged of one count of abuse of office.
http://fijivillage.com/news/Former-Fiji-Commerce-Commission-CEO-charged-with-abuse-of-office-rs59k2/

Senior police officer found guilty of bribery.  Lautoka High Court Judge Justice Thushara Rajasinghe has found a Senior Police officer guilty of two counts of bribery.
http://fijivillage.com/news/Senior-police-officer-found-guilty-of-bribery--5k9rs2/


FRENCH POLYNESIA

Jail term for former Tahiti GIP head Puputauki.  A French court has given the former head of French Polynesia's disbanded GIP militia an 18-month jail sentence for abuse of public funds.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/315660/jail-term-for-former-tahiti-gip-head-puputauki


COOK ISLANDS

Cooks' Bishop facing more investigations.  A convicted former MP in the Cook Islands, Teina Bishop, is facing more investigations.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/315577/cooks'-bishop-facing-more-investigations


VANUATU

Immunity claim.  Fourteen former members of parliament jailed for bribery and corruption are claiming they were protected by the privilege of parliamentary immunity when they were summoned for prosecution last year.
http://dailypost.vu/news/immunity-claim/article_ad3e3485-2697-5700-b7f5-e692eba996a0.html

Anti-Corruption Committee Established.  Prime Minister Charlot Salwai yesterday ordered the establishment of an 18-member Anti-Corruption Committee (ACC), under the Government Act [CAP 243].
http://dailypost.vu/news/anti-corruption-committee-established/article_3ea6639d-9c7a-5537-8439-481688912a91.html


For more information about the UN Pacific Regional Anti-Corruption (UN-PRAC) Project, please get in touch with:

Maria Adomeit, Regional Anti-Corruption Adviser, UNODC, maria.adomeit@unodc.org
Mihaela Stojkoska, Anti-Corruption Specialist - Pacific, UNDP, mihaela.stojkoska@undp.org
Luisa Senibulu, Governance Programme Associate, UNDP/UNODC, luisa.senibulu@undp.org
Samita Singh, Programme Assistant - Anti-Corruption, UNDP/UNODC, samita.singh@undp.org

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