Pacific Anti-Corruption Updates (6 February 2021): Fiji, Vanuatu

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FIJI

SODELPA referred to FICAC for breaches.  The Registrar of Political Parties has referred the Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA) to the Fiji Independent Commission against Corruption (FICAC) for breaches of the Political Parties Act.

https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/politics/sodelpa-referred-to-ficac-for-breaches/

$50 Bribe Lands Former LTA Officer 8 Months Behind Bars.  He had denied the charge [of accepting the bribe to pass a vehicle without conducting a fitness inspection] but was found guilty and convicted accordingly.

https://fijisun.com.fj/2021/01/29/50-bribe-lands-former-lta-officer-8-months-behind-bars/

Corruption Index 2020 Shows Nations Struggling To Combat it.  While the Asia Pacific region is diverse in both size and scale, most countries still struggle to improve their anti-corruption efforts. Some bright spots exist where countries have made substantial gains to build integrity.

https://fijisun.com.fj/2021/01/30/corruption-index-2020-shows-nations-struggling-to-combat-it/

Whistle-blower vice-chancellor deported after midnight raid by Fiji police.  Fiji police have carried out a midnight raid at the home of Pal Ahluwalia, the vice-chancellor of the prestigious University of the South Pacific, and summarily deported him on orders of the prime minister…Ahluwalia’s previous exposure of allegations of corruption and financial mismanagement under previous university administrations has angered the Fijian government.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/05/whistleblower-vice-chancellor-deported-after-midnight-raid-by-fiji-police

 

VANUATU

Vanuatu public prosecutor files against a former Prime Minister Charlot Salwai.  Vanuatu's public prosecutor, Josiah Ludvaune, has filed an appeal against a Supreme Court judgement on corruption and bribery charges against former prime minister Charlot Salwai and three others.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/435871/in-brief-news-from-around-the-pacific-5-february

 

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

Annika Wythes, Regional Anti-Corruption Adviser, UNODC, annika.wythes@un.org

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