Pacific Anti-Corruption Updates (5 December 2020): Fiji, PNG, Vanuatu

-

FIJI:

TLTB Employees, Businessman on Bribery Charge Front Court. Two senior staff members from the iTaukei Land Trust Board (TLTB) and a businessman charged with numerous counts of bribery, appeared at the Labasa Magistrates Court

https://fijisun.com.fj/2020/12/03/tltb-employees-businessman-on-bribery-charge-front-court/

FICAC Petition of Appeal Filed. A petition of appeal was today filed in the case regarding the acquitted former employee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs charged with corruption related offences. 

https://fijisun.com.fj/2020/12/01/ficac-petition-of-appeal-filed/

 

PNG:

Basil referred to PNG Corruption Watchdog.  The Ombudsman Commission advises that it has referred Hon Sam Basil MP, Member for Bulolo Open, Member, Morobe Provincial Assembly to the Public Prosecutor for alleged misconduct in office.

https://news.pngfacts.com/2020/12/basil-referred-to-png-corruption.html

Papua New Guinea embroiled in ongoing political turmoil. The government of Papua New Guinea (PNG), led by Prime Minister James Marape, has plunged into turmoil after the defection of over a dozen MPs to the opposition.

https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/11/28/pnga-n28.html

Former PNG PM to stand trial over generators purchase. Papua New Guinea's former Prime Minister, Peter O'Neill, has been committed to stand trial for charges of Misappropriation and Official Corruption.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/431945/former-png-pm-to-stand-trial-over-generators-purchase

 

VANUATU:

Vanuatu PM testifies against his predecessor. Vanuatu's Prime minister, Bob Loughman, has appeared as a prosecution witness in the bribery, corruption and perjury trial of his predecessor, Charlot Salwai.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/432081/vanuatu-pm-testifies-against-his-predecessor

Popular posts from this blog

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

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 authorit...
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