AP-INTACT

National Accountability Bureau Chairman Qamar Zaman Chaudhry has said that the anti-corruption watchdog has prosecuted the corrupt and recovered Rs265.12 billion since its inception, which is a record achievement. More in The Tribune Express. http://tribune.com.pk/story/1024977/nab-recovered-rs265-12b-since-inception-page-9/

"Government senior officials have a right to seek a good education for their children, live in big villas or drive luxury cars. But one important thing is that they have to prove their money is clean." More from Chu Lan Huong, in Viet Nam News. http://vietnamnews.vn/opinion/op-ed/280903/officials-with-big-bankroll-must-prove-money-%E2%80%98clean.html

Although they were low-ranking Bhutan government employees, a Post Office messenger and an Election Commission receptionist allegedly managed to embezzle the equivalent of nearly US$76,000 from the country’s postal service by exploiting a weakness in the service’s billing procedures. More from Rinzin Wangchuk, in Kuensel. http://www.kuenselonline.com/bhutan-post-messenger-implicated-in-nu-5-106m-embezzlement-case/

Thailand’s Private Sector Collective Action Coalition against Corruption (CAC)'s bi-annual survey shows that 48 per cent of key businessmen saw a continuous decline in severity of corruption problem in Thailand over the past two years while only 24 per cent viewed the problem as being more severe. More in The Nation. http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Anti-corruption-movement-gains-momentum-30276684.html

Pakistan and Sri Lanka signed a memorandum of understanding to increase cooperation in the exchange of intelligence related to money laundering and terrorism financing. More in Daily Times. http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/national/06-Jan-2016/pakistan-sri-lanka-to-jointly-fight-terror-financing-money-laundering

--> [Facilitator’s note: Thank you to Tony Kwok, Adjunct Professor & Hon Course Director, Hong Kong University School of Professional and Continuing Education, for sharing this information.] The Hong Kong University School of Professional and Continuing Education (HKU SPACE) will offer the “7th Senior Executive Certificate in Institutional Integrity Management” programme from 12–22 April, 2016 in Hong Kong. This short course is ideal for anti-corruption officials who cannot afford the time to attend the full three weeks intensive Postgraduate Certificate in Corruption Studies programme, normally held in November in Hong Kong, as it would cover most of the key components of that course. This programme is now inviting applications from around the world. Based on the Hong Kong successful model, this 9-days course is developed to train and prepare professional Institutional Integrity Officer.  It aims to equip participants with both professional knowl...

"The government of Myanmar is quickly privatising state-owned land plots, buildings and factories by selling and renting them during its last few weeks before its term ends. Many suspect that this blitz of selling and renting government assets is rife with corruption." More in Eleven Myanmar. http://www.elevenmyanmar.com/editorial/does-rushed-privatisations-lead-corruption