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

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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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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

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