Pacific Anti-Corruption Updates (14 July 2017): Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji

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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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Australia a 'place of choice' for money laundering due to lack of regulation: ANZ.  ANZ Bank says a lack of political will has seen successive Australian governments fail to extend money laundering laws to cover lawyers, real estate agents and accountants.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-07-13/should-australias-anti-money-laundering-laws-be-extended/8703354

COOK ISLANDS:
PAC recommends legal action to recover stolen money.  The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) wants the police to take a civil legal case to recover more than $24,000 from a former police officer jailed for stealing money at police headquarters.
http://www.cookislandsnews.com/national/local/item/65066-pac-recommends-legal-action-to-recover-stolen-money

FIJI:
Hearing Dates For Ex-Minister Reddy Set.  The hearing dates for former Minister for Education Mahendra Reddy, who has been charged by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption of bribery and undue influence, have been set for September 6 and 8.
https://fijisun.com.fj/2017/07/12/hearing-dates-for-ex-minister-reddy-set/
FICAC seeks time to file agreed facts in Maharaj’s case.  Former Fiji Commerce Commission Chief Executive Bobby Maharaj, who is facing one count of abuse of office charge, appeared in the Suva Magistrates Court.
http://www.fbc.com.fj/fiji/52498/ficac-seeks-time-to-file-agreed-facts-in-maharaj%E2%80%99s-case

To know more about the UN Pacific Regional Anti-Corruption Project please contact the team members:
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

Maria Lee, Peace & Development Administrative Assistant, UNDP/UNODC, maria.lee@undp.org

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