Pacific Anti-Corruption Updates (16 November 2019): PNG, Fiji, Vanuatu, Nauru, Samoa
PNG:
Corruption Leaders, Public Servants, Police Officers will be prosecuted, says Minister Kramer. Police minister Bryan Kramer says he will make sure all corrupt politicians, public servants and police officers whose names are on his list are brought to justice and prosecuted.
Tactical approach deployed to pursue former PNG PM's arrest. Papua New Guinea's police minister has indicated that a new arrest warrant for former prime minister Peter O'Neill is being pursued.
FIJI:
Council Staff under radar for alleged corrupt practices. Minister Premila Kumar said was now underway to have processes done in municipal councils in a much more transparent and accountable manner.
https://fijisun.com.fj/2019/11/14/council-staff-under-radar-for-alleged-corrupt-practices/
2 people facing charges of money laundering and fraudulent falsification of accounts to take plea on the 10th December. Two people who are facing charges of money laundering and fraudulent falsification of accounts will take their plea on the 10th of December this year.
VANUATU:
Vanuatu has cancelled my work permit; it’s a dark day for media freedom. Vanuatu’s Daily Post has always held the government to account and will continue to do so, with or without me as editor.
NAURU:
Nauru 19: Australian judge blasts 'appalling' persecution of protesters. It began in 2015, when demonstrators – including current or former MPs and presidents – gathered outside Nauru’s parliament following the expulsion of three members who had criticised the government in foreign media, amid allegations of corruption and the sacking and deportation of two judges.
Our aid ‘corrupts power’ in Nauru. The Pacific nation of Nauru is “sliding into authoritarianism”, propped up by Australian aid money and ignored by politic¬ians, after a controversial prosecution against a handful of opposition MPs was accelerated despite none having access to lawyers.
SAMOA:
Govt. moves on money laundering. The Government has moved to protect Samoa from the threat of “money laundering” and “terrorist financing” with a new digital monitoring system.
https://www.samoaobserver.ws/category/samoa/53181
Cash transaction reporting for Samoa. The Central Bank of Samoa’s Database System on Cash Transaction Reporting has gone live! And this is part of our continuous efforts to address anti-money laundering issues, as well as countering terrorist financing.
https://www.onepng.com/2019/11/cash-transaction-reporting-for-samoa.html
To know more about the UN Pacific Regional Anti-Corruption Project please contact the team members:
Annika Wythes, Regional Anti-Corruption Adviser, UNODC, annika.wythes@un.org
Marine Destrez, Anti-Corruption Specialist – Pacific a.i., UNDP, marine.destrez@undp.org
Maria Lee, Peace & Development Administrative Assistant, UNDP/UNODC, maria.lee@und-p.org
