UNODC Anti-Corruption Newsletter / Illegal enrichment laws / Myanmar detainees extortion

-

UNODC Southeast Asia Anti-Corruption Newsletter (April - June 2021.  Follow UNODC’s work over the past quarter, ranging from formulating data-driven approaches to anti-corrution across Southeast Asia, to strengthening anti-corruption investigations in Viet Nam.

UNODC: https://mailchi.mp/1617492f7f12/unodc-corruption-newsletter-5553000

 

Illegal Enrichment Laws: Asia’s Ignored Anti-Corruption Weapon (Opinion).  “Unconventionally, these laws do not require prosecutors to show proof that a government official committed a specific crime before a court will order a sanction and confiscate funds. Instead, a court must merely be satisfied that the official enjoyed an amount of wealth that has not been justified by reference to their legal income.”

Andrew Dornbierer/The Diplomat: https://thediplomat.com/2021/07/illegal-enrichment-laws-asias-ignored-anti-corruption-weapon/   

 

Myanmar Junta Extorting Money From Anti-Coup Detainees.  “When no evidence is found to charge those detained on suspicion of being involved in anti-regime activities, authorities put them on a ‘to-be-released list’. Military personnel and police who have access to those lists then contact the relatives of the political detainees via local police, military security affairs officers and military-appointed ward administrators, and deceive them into paying money for their release.”

The Irrawaddy: https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/myanmar-junta-extorting-money-from-anti-coup-detainees.html  

Popular posts from this blog

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 authoritarian
Read more

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

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