Pacific Anti-Corruption Updates – 9 Dec 2016: PNG, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Cook Islands

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International Anti-Corruption Day (9 December)

United against corruption for development, peace and security

#UnitedAgainstCorruption

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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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PNG:

UNDP calls for increased efforts to combat corruption in PNG as part of International Anti-Corruption Day.  UNDP has been supporting Papua New Guinea in strengthening transparent and accountable institutions.

http://news.pngfacts.com/2016/12/un-calls-for-increased-efforts-to.html

ICAC to take over from Taskforce Sweep.  The former head of Papua New Guinea's anti-corruption body, Taskforce Sweep's Sam Koim, has lost his two-year court battle to keep his job and maintain the taskforce.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-12-05/png's-icac-to-take-over-from-taskforce-sweep/8094110

Curtain falls on PNG anti-corruption team that probed PM.  A Papua New Guinea court has ruled that a government decision to disband a national anti-corruption investigative agency cannot be overturned.

http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/319652/curtain-falls-on-png-anti-corruption-team-that-probed-pm

FIJI:

“Walking Out Corruption” Campaign Begins.  The “Walking out Corruption” Campaign will see youth integrity volunteers and community representatives walking from Tailevu to Suva over a five-day period.

http://fijisun.com.fj/2016/12/07/walking-out-corruption-campaign-begins/

Lawyers and accountants undergo anti money laundering tests.  Lawyers and accountants are required under the Financial Transactions Reporting Act to implement certain obligations and preventative measures that aim at detecting illegal and money laundering activities.

https://www.newswire.com.fj/business/financial-business/lawyers-and-accountants-undergo-anti-money-laundering-tests/

Man charged for allegedly laundering $1.2 million.  A 53-year-old businessman was charged and produced at the Suva Magistrates Court for a money-laundering related offence.

http://fijione.tv/man-charged-for-allegedly-laundering-1-2-million/

SOLOMON ISLANDS:

Come Join the Anti-Corruption Walk.  Corruption impacts negatively on our future, our children’s future, our resources, our democracy and the development of Solomon Islands, its people and natural resources and urges everyone to unite and to take a stand against it.

http://www.solomonstarnews.com/news/national/11839-come-join-the-anti-corruption-walk

FSII to protest over Govt on corruption.  Forum Solomon Islands International (FSII) members will mark the International Anti-corruption Day this Friday with a peaceful protest over government failures to fight against corruption.

http://www.solomonstarnews.com/news/national/11838-fsii-to-protest-over-govt-on-corruption

No law criminalise political bribery. There is no law passed in parliament that criminalised the act of bribing Members of Parliament (MPs) with cash or valuable items during a lobbying period towards the election of a new Prime Minister.

http://www.solomonstarnews.com/news/national/11791-no-law-criminalise-political-bribery

Oto faces court but is yet to take pleas.  A senior government officer accused of fraudulently obtaining more than $800,000 of public funds through dishonest tender processes did not take his pleas last Friday.

http://www.solomonstarnews.com/news/national/11786-oto-faces-court-but-is-yet-to-take-pleas

Corruption increasing in Solomons says watchdog group.  The chairperson of Transparency Solomon Islands says corruption continues to rise in the country despite increased efforts to combat it.

http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/319880/corruption-increasing-in-solomons-says-watchdog-group

COOK ISLANDS:

Former Cooks Minister loses appeal over bribe.  A former Cook Islands cabinet minister has lost an appeal over his conviction on corruption charges, but his sentence has been reduced.

http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/319838/former-cooks-minister-loses-appeal-over-bribe

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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