Corruption and Corruption Control: An Introduction

WRITTEN BY Hans-Joerg Albrecht

Corruption and control of corruption have become a focal concern in developed and developing countries . European countries - where corruption for a long time had been thought to present a plague strictly confined to underdeveloped countries - now are recognizing eminent dangers of corruption and an urgent need to control corrupt practices in the political, administrative and economic system . The Council of Europe has declared corruption a key political issue in Europe and stresses the links between corruption on the one hand and organized and serious economic crime on the other hand.

Cyber Crime in the financial sector

WRITTEN BY Raoul Chiesa

A few months ago, I encountered in an article by Ian Rowan at Switched.com reporting the news of a computer consultant that siphoned $1M USD from a Utah Bank. Also Mementosecurity commented the article on April 27th explaining how “An IT contractor hired to fix some bugs in a recent computer upgrade used his system access to make fraudulent electronic transfers into accounts under his control. He allegedly used the funds to remodel his home, pay off his two car notes, and cover a few mortgage payments. The fraud came to light when his business partner reported the suspicious transactions.”

How does corruption translate in social sector?

WRITTEN BY Lugon-Moulin

Corruption is often depicted as a major impediment to poverty reduction. Being detrimental to good governance, corruption undermines the smooth implementation of sound economic and social policies. First, as far as petty corruption is concerned, extra payments in the forms of bribes are required from users of public services; therefore, fair access to public services is denied.

Achieving zero new victims of landmines

WRITTEN BY Maxwell Kerley

Introduction

As we think about how we can continue to reduce and if possible eliminate new victims of landmines, we are reminded of the remarkable advances during the evolution of mine action work which began with the establishment of the mine action operation for Afghanistan in 1989. We remember those lost and those affected and our determination to live in a world free of the threat of landmines and explosive remnants of war is fortified. It is my fervent hope that a world with zero new victims of landmines will become a reality in my lifetime.

Bold action against corruption

WRITTEN BY Sandro Calvani

The global economy is in a severe depression inflicted by the massive financial crisis and an acute loss of confidence. This global recession caused banks to undergo structural adjustment and thousands of companies were forced to close down their businesses. As a result millions of people are currently unemployed, or are forced to take contract instead of full-time positions.

The Stolen Assets Recovery Initiative (StAR)

WRITTEN BY Stuart Gilman

Ending the Impunity of Corrupt Officials and Returning the Proceeds of Corruption

he local public seems to be bombarded with stories about corruption. It seems that there are weekly front-page headlines boldly announcing that some former president of an African country had stolen billions of dollars and hidden them outside of their country. Another news report targets a senior politician from the Americas who is hiding in Europe with untold sums of monies. Or, that a former minister from Southeast Asia had been convicted of corruption, but their monies and properties remain safe in various financial centres around the world. This was the state of anti-corruption efforts in 2007.

Criminalization of illegal enrichment

WRITTEN BY Davor Derencinovic

According to the public opinion’s group of definitions, some behaviur or act should be considered as corruption as the public opinionconsiders it as corruptive. Corruption also can be defined as a process in which at least two persons, through an illegal exchange conducted with purpose of getting certain personal benefits, do something contrary to public interest and, by breaching moral and legal norms, threaten the fundamentals of democratic society and the rule of law.

Victims of crime

WRITTEN BY Lisa Rea

Meeting with a killer

In 1986, Ellen Halbert was raped, stabbed, beaten with a hammer and left for dead in her home in Texas. During her recovery, she began to speak out about victims’ rights and what needed to change in our “offender-focused” criminal justice system. In 1991, she was appointed by Governor Ann Richards as the first victim to serve on the Texas Board of Criminal Justice, the board that oversees the massive adult criminal justice system in Texas.

The AO Man Long corruption and money laundering case

WRITTEN BY Jorge Godinho

Macau:

Ao Man Long was the first Secretary for Public Works in the Government of the Macau SAR, a post equivalent to minister to which he was appointed on 20 December 1999, at age 43, and then reappointed in 2004 for a second term. Ao graduated in mechanical engineering from the University of Taiwan, obtained an MBA at the University of Macau, and had served as a Macau civil servant since 1987.

Corruption in football

WRITTEN BY Alexis Franke

Foul Play

2006 was a dark year for the Italian football nation. The former manager of FC Juventus Turin, one of the most popular teams in the league, was accused of manipulating games with the help of corrupt referees, players and officials. As a consequence, the team had to dismount to the second league and its last two-championship titles 2005 and 2006 were withdrawn. The manager was punished to 5 years of occupational ban. In total, 26 officials were accused.

Corruption in natural resources

WRITTEN BY Ivar Kolstad, Tina Soreide and Aled Williams

Natural resources often provide fertile ground for corruption. Since a substantial number of partner countries in development cooperation are richly endowed with natural resources, these contexts pose a particular challenge for effective donor action. The risk of corruption cuts across several natural resource sectors, from non-renewable resources such as oil, gas, minerals and metals, to renewable resources such as forests, fisheries and land. There are, however, important variations in the challenges presented by these sectors and the manner in which corruption in relation to them can be addressed.

Illicit cash couriers under the spotlight

WRITTEN BY Kunio Mikuriya

Money laundering is the act of concealing or disguising the nature, location, source, ownership or control of money, irrespective of whether it is being moved in cash, by cheque, via electronic transfer or by any other means, to avoid state transaction reporting requirements or to hide the fact that the money was acquired by illegal means. Criminal syndicates and even terrorist groups must find a way to control their funds without attracting attention to their underlying activities or to the persons involved.