Pacific Anti-Corruption Updates – 12 Nov 2016 – Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, PNG

-
Get AP-INTACT posts on Twitter (https://twitter.com/apintactnetwork)

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.

If a link below does not work, please copy and paste the link into your browser’s address bar instead.

SAMOA:

Addressing Integrity Issues with Public Servants on Anti-Corruption Convention.  Samoa‘s senior public servants and department heads are aiming to agree on implementation of ongoing integrity development with the UN Pacific Regional Anti-Corruption (UN-PRAC) Project in Apia, Samoa this week.

http://www.samoaobserver.ws/en/10_11_2016/local/13716/Addressing-integrity-issues-with-public-servants-on-anti-corruption-convention.htm

TONGA:

Corruption in Paradise: Former Attorney General of Tonga questions NZ judicial aid.  Corruption in Tonga is worse than ever and New Zealand should withhold money until sweeping constitutional changes are made, says the nation's first independent Attorney General.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/south-pacific/86197503/corruption-in-paradise-former-attorney-general-of-tonga-questions-nz-judicial-aid

Tongan Prime Minister wants predecessor charged over passport scandal.  The former Tongan Prime Minister has promised to resign from Parliament if he is found to have acted improperly over the issuing of passports to Chinese people as a political stoush over the scandal intensifies.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/south-pacific/85685551/corruption-in-paradise-tongan-prime-minister-wants-predecessor-charged-over-passport-scandal

Corruption in Paradise: the Kiwi cops who tried to clean up corruption in Tonga.  Framed photos of police commanders decorate a wall at the Police College in Tonga [with the last two standing out] because they are "palagi" - white Europeans - cops sent from New Zealand to clean up the force and root out corruption.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/south-pacific/85685646/Corruption-in-Paradise-the-Kiwi-cops-who-tried-to-clean-up-corruption-in-Tonga

FIJI:

International crime groups target vulnerable Pacific countries.  International crime syndicates are factoring in the cost of bribing officials as they use Pacific Island countries as gateways for smuggling drugs, people and guns, an expert says.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/south-pacific/85785437/corruption-in-paradise-international-crime-groups-target-vulnerable-pacific-countries

ANZ hosts fraud awareness training for commercial banks in Fiji. ANZ last week held a two-day fraud awareness workshop facilitated by Mastercard experts and attended by ANZ, Bank South Pacific (BSP), Bred and Westpac staff.

http://fijisun.com.fj/2016/11/08/anz-hosts-fraud-awareness-training-for-commercial-banks-in-fiji/

FICAC staff members get fraud prosecution training.  State counsels and investigators of the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) underwent a six-day training on Specializing in Fraud Prosecution from October 31 to the November 5, 2016.

http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=377617

Man pleads guilty to embezzlement sentenced to 2 years imprisonment.  A 54-year-old former Postal Assistant who pleaded guilty to two counts of embezzlement has been sentenced to two years imprisonment.

http://fijivillage.com/news/Man-pleads-guilty-to-embezzlement-sentenced-to-2-years-imprisonment--2sk5r9/

PAPUA NEW GUINEA:

PNG opposition seeks court interpretation over budget.  Papua New Guinea's opposition is to seek court action on its claim that the 2017 national budget is fraudulent.

http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/317800/png-opposition-seeks-court-interpretation-over-budget

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

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