One of the reasons Bainimarama gave for the December 2006 was the need to end what he claimed to be endemic corruption. His opponents and doubters have dismissed his "reason" and the extent of corruption.
But in its 2001 report, Transparency International claimed corruption included civil servants in various ministries, government agencies and public sector companies that were "imposing and demanding ‘extra levies’ for provision of services which they were expected to deliver in the normal course of their duties." Its 2005 report placed Fiji in 55th position with a score of only four points (ten being the least corrupt) on its Corruption Perception Index. Neither report was acted upon by Qarase in 2001 or 2005 despite Fiji being a signatory to the UN Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC). In 2006, before the coup, The Fiji Times also accused the Qarase government of corruption.
In one of my first postings on this blog I expressed the view that the NZ government could put an end to government and anti-government claims and counter-claims simply by making some of its forensic accountants available to Fiji. It is unfortunate they never did, because detecting corruption and providing sufficient evidence to convict requires high levels of skill and experience, and Fiji had no forensic accountants.
In April 2007 the Bainimarama government established the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) to investigate acts of corruption by public servants, irrespective of their rank, status or income. This was followed by The Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption Promulgation 2007 (Corruption Promulgation) and ‘The Prevention of Bribery Promulgation 2007’ (Bribery Promulgation).
Up to December 2008, the Commission has received 4291 complaints, of which 1521 were referred to other government departments for action. The Commission itself has charged 35 public servants, one is in prison, and two businessmen and their cases are in currently before the courts. It has also successfully resolved 492 cases through mediation.
A high profile case that could come before the courts in November involves ousted PM Laisenia Qarase for abuse of office when he was chairman of Fijian Holdings Ltd between 1992 and 1995. He is alleged to have transferred a large number of Class A shares, intended for the provinces, to his family-owned trust.(FijiLive) See also previous posting "Questionable Dealings in Fijian Holdings Ltd."
When Bainimarama talks about the need for infrastructural reforms before holding elections, making the civil service corruption-free is high on his list. -- Story based on Indian Newslink.
4 comments:
"FICAC has ... successfully resolved 492 cases through mediation."
How on earth does one mediate a corruption case? Or are they wasting their time on civil disputes brought to them in the form of 'corruption complaints'?
1 conviction.
How about calling FICAC what it is: one of the regime's clumsiest props, unable to disambiguate between corruption, incompetence, and mismanagement ... and fast gaining a reputation as a regime attack dog rather than a serious independent prosecutor.
Alterego with his odd use of the word 'disambiguate' is erroneous in his assertion and assumption that FICAC cannot distinguish between "corruption, incompetence and mismanagement". They can and so can we: interested parties who live, work and know well by now what goes on. We make it our business to know: 80 hours in the Courts? Six years on an anti-crime committee? We know who is corrupt or might be corrupt and we have seen evidence. Alterego has no evidence that there is NO corruption. He appears to think that just saying so is SUFFICIENT. It may be 'necessary' but it is 'insufficient' to prove his case. Come into the courts especially the Appeals Court. Listen and learn, Alterego. Yes, there is incompetence and mismanagement but there is also evidence of corruption and it is widespread and aided by expatriates who live and work in Fiji. In some instances, it is INITIATED by them. The homegrown variety is alive and well also. It was flourishing but FICAC and TI Fiji's ALAC Office are now working together. Caveat Corruptor!
One would suppose that mediation on a corruption case would result in a substantial sum of money being returned or paid to those who were entitled to it but who were deprived of such payment due to: intransigence/negligence/criminal conduct.
I have come across all three in just the past week. I have seen another case involving 'Abuse of Office' in the High Court at Lautoka. There is absolute evidence in this last case. The person charged knows that he is guilty; I know that he is guilty and the camera does not lie.
So, get real all you doubters and prevaricators concerning corruption in Fiji and take this warning to heart: we also know who some of you are. You are not patriots or defenders of democracy. You are traitors to your country of birth and you ought to know and do better. You are being observed, closely, a number of you to see how long it will take before you decide to do your 'bit' for your country. Are you up to it?
The number of complaints received by FICAC speaks for itself. The people attacking FICAC are the same ones who have used politics and culture to escape corruption in the past. Look at the Agriculture scam. It was obvious that it was political corruption and an election fraud. But there was no police investigations into the politicians headed by our very own Lai Qarase. Failure by police to investigate the SDL? Or failure by the DPP to prosecute him? After all the then DPP was appointed by the SDL government appointed Constitutional Offices Commission. Wasn't the then DPP rewarded for filing a pro interim administration affidavit in the Chandrika Parsad case? So how could corrupt politicians be brought to justice pre 2006? Now the test for FICAC is whether they will bring the current lot to justice if they turn to corruption. Lets wait and see.
By the way, one correction of your blog. The UN Convention on corruption was never ratified by Qarase Rabuka or Chaudhery. The Bainimarama government ratified it on Fiji's behalf for the first time.
Post a Comment