Latest news with #AntiCorruption
The Sun
a day ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Tennis star slapped with 12-YEAR ban and three more suspended in huge corruption scandal
A TENNIS player has been banned from the sport for 12 YEARS after breaking anti-corruption rules. Thai Natthasith Kunsuwan, 24, is one of four players to have been punished by The International Tennis Integrity Agency. 1 Kunsuwan admitted to 39 breaches of anti-corruption breaches. This included contriving the outcome of events, accepting money to contrive the outcome of events and failure to report corrupt approaches. He accepted an agreed sanction, including a £55,000 fine, with £41,000 of it being suspended. He fully cooperated with the investigation, but will not be able to return to tennis until 2036. Three other players have been suspended for alleged breaches of the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program. Frenchman Jaimee Floyd Angele has been suspended for five years and three months. He has admitted to contriving one match in exchange for payment in 2022. The 25-year-old failed to cooperate with an ITIA investigation and also destroyed evidence. Angele accepted the sanction and a fine of £14,900, half of which is suspended. He will not be able to return to the court until 2029. A third player, Christian Lindell has been suspended for seven years. The ITIA found the Swede to have committed four breaches of the TACP, relating to one fixed match, and has been fined £7,450. His ban expires in 2032. Finally, Frenchman Samuel Bensoussan has been suspended for one year and 11 months. He was found to have fixed four matches and fined £8,940. He will be able to play again in 2027. The suspensions mean all four players will be banned from playing in, coaching at, or attending any tennis event authourised or sanctioned by members of the ITIA (ATP, ITF, WTA, Tennis Australia, Federation Francaise de Tennis, Wimbledon and USTA) or any national assocation.
Malay Mail
6 days ago
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Ombudsman Malaysia—How soon is soon? — Hafiz Hassan
JULY 24 — Ombudsman Malaysia would soon be established, Deputy Law and Institutional Reform Minister M. Kulasegaran told the Dewan Rakyat yesterday. Lest the deputy minister forgets, it's been almost seven years since Ombudsman Malaysia was mooted in September 2018 by second-time prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad who led a Cabinet drawn from four parties—Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), the Democratic Action Party (DAP) and Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah). Kulasegaran was then the minister of human resources. He should recall that Dr Mahathir then said that the Public Complaints Bureau (PCB) would be known and function as Ombudsman Malaysia. For such a purpose, an Ombudsman Act would be drafted to ensure a more effective management of public complaints in Malaysia. 'The Ombudsman Malaysia will not be put under the prime minister's office or under any ministry. It is free to act (as it sees fit),' Dr Mahathir said after a meeting of the Special Cabinet Committee on Anti-Corruption. Also present were then Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Liew Vui Keong and National Centre for Governance, Integrity and Anti-Corruption (GIACC) director-general Abu Kassim Mohamed. Dr Mahathir also expressed his hope that the government could find qualified people to be in Ombudsman Malaysia. 'We will try to find people who have impeccable integrity,' he said. Fast forward—five years and three prime ministers after Dr Mahathir in 2018 -- Law and Institutional Reform Minister Azalina Othman Said told a press conference in May 2023 that the legislation for the establishment of Ombudsman Malaysia was slated for Parliament tabling in October that year. With less than five months to go then, Azalina said the government was in the final stage of engaging stakeholders such as NGOs and civil society organisations to fine-tune the Bill for eventual Cabinet approval. An engagement session with MPs was also held in June that year. PCB director-general S. Letchumanan briefed the MPs, which included Azalina. That was more than two years ago. October 2023 came and went before we could even blink. More than a year later in December 2024, Kulasegaran repeated what was said by Azalina in May 2023 -- that the legislation for the establishment of Ombudsman Malaysia would be drafted and likely be tabled in Parliament in this year (2025). He said soon. Earlier in July 2024, the deputy minister told the Dewan Rakyat that the government was committed to establishing Ombudsman Malaysia as an independent body to receive and address complaints related to the federal public service delivery system. He told the House that the proposal to establish Ombudsman Malaysia was presented at the Law and Institutional Reform Agenda Implementation Committee Meeting on April 29, where it was decided that a holistic engagement session would be held for three months to determine the mechanism for its establishment. 'This decision was also agreed upon in the Cabinet meeting on June 12. The process of appointing committee members from each involved agency for the engagement session is now underway. 'This engagement session is important to ensure that the views and needs of all stakeholders are transparently and comprehensively taken into account for the benefit of the people and the country,' he said in reply to a question from Ahmad Tarmizi Sulaiman (PN-Sik) regarding the latest plans to enact the Ombudsman Act. Yesterday, Kulasegaran told the Dewan Rakyat that Ombudsman Malaysia would be established. He said soon, again. How soon is soon? ** This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.
Free Malaysia Today
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Lodge report against MACC officer who threatened you, Kula tells businessman
Deputy law and institutional reform minister M Kulasegaran speaking in Parliament during the winding-up of the Whistleblower Protection (Amendment) Bill 2025. (Bernama pic) KUALA LUMPUR : Deputy law and institutional reform minister M Kulasegaran has urged businessman Albert Tei to lodge a police report and name the anti-graft agency officer who allegedly threatened him not to go public with information about the Sabah mining scandal. 'This issue has also been raised by several MPs. It is a very serious allegation and one that cannot be accepted under any circumstances,' he said during his winding-up speech for the Whistleblower Protection (Amendment) Bill 2025 in the Dewan Rakyat today. 'I would like to advise the individual named Albert Tei to immediately file a report regarding this issue with the police and the MACC complaints committee under Section 15 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009 (Act 694), by naming the MACC officer involved in the allegation.' Kulasegaran said that the government will not compromise on issues involving threats or intimidation, and stern action will be taken if the allegations are found to be true. 'Any individual who comes forward with information about misconduct must not be blocked or threatened by any party, especially by authorities who are supposed to protect whistleblowers under Act 711,' he said. Tei is currently standing trial on two charges of giving a total of RM350,000 in bribes related to mineral prospecting licence applications in Sabah to two assemblymen. Earlier today, lawyer Mahajoth Singh was reported as saying that Tei had approached MACC but was warned against coming forward before he exposed the Sabah mining scandal to Malaysiakini. Malaysiakini reported Mahajoth as saying that his client had first approached MACC at the end of October 2024, but was told by the anti-graft agency that he 'would be in trouble' if he came forward. Tei was also not offered any protection, the lawyer claimed. Mahajoth said this in response to law and institutional reform minister Azalina Othman Said, who said whistleblowers who approached the media before enforcement agencies were not entitled to protection under the Whistleblower Protection Act 2010. He said Tei decided to go public after being dismissed by the MACC and receiving death threats. The Sabah mining scandal surfaced last year following the leak of several videos purportedly showing discussions involving bribery and misconduct related to mineral exploration projects in the state. Tei and two other Sabah assemblymen have since claimed trial to charges of giving and receiving a total of RM350,000 in bribes related to mineral prospecting licence applications in the state.
RNZ News
18-07-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
SFO launches pilot programme to tackle public sector corruption risks
File image. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King A newly launched Anti-Corruption Taskforce pilot programme, led by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO), will be running for the next six months to assess risks across the public sector - including AI-enabled fraud, foreign interference and insider threats. The SFO will be supported by the Police and the Public Service Commission to build a "system-wide" picture of the corruption and fraud risks in the public sector. Between July and September, the taskforce will request six agencies to complete self-assessments and supply data: Inland Revenue, Accident Compensation Corporation, the Department of Corrections, the Ministry of Social Development, Land Information New Zealand and Sport New Zealand. The agencies will also report on the volume of corruption and fraud detected and prevented. By the end of the year, the taskforce will prepare advice to ministers and release a public report about the trends, gaps and recommended actions. SFO chief executive Karen Chang said in a statement tackling public sector fraud was about safeguarding taxpayers' funds and protecting New Zealanders' trust in government. "By bringing frontline agencies and enforcement partners together, this will help build a clearer intelligence picture that can be used to lift system resilience and ensure we stay ahead of emerging threats such as insider threats, foreign interference and AI-enabled fraud." Chang said the pilot would generate a baseline that informed more targeted prevention, better detection and stronger enforcement. She said the agencies were already proactive members of the existing Counter Fraud Centre community, and their willingness to share data showed a strong commitment to integrity. Police Commissioner Richard Chambers said working with agencies across government would allow the taskforce to identify risks early and use the collective enforcement to keep the system strong. Police Minister Mark Mitchell said the public sector accounted for a third of the economy, and the pilot was a "critical step" in protecting and enhancing New Zealand's reputation as an attractive place to invest. "Every dollar of public funding counts, and preventing the unlawful taking of taxpayer money is something we take very seriously," he said. Public Service Minister Judith Collins said the taskforce would help increase transparency and encourage ethical conduct across the public sector. "Fighting corruption is not just about prosecution - it's about leadership, accountability and promoting a culture of integrity." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Democrats to Intro ‘Presidential Library Anti-Corruption' Bill After Paramount, Disney Lawsuit Settlements With Trump
A group of Democrats in Congress is introducing legislation to close 'loopholes' that allow for unchecked donations to presidential libraries. The new bill comes after Paramount Global and Disney each agreed to pay $16 million to President Donald Trump — with most of the money earmarked for Trump's future presidential library — to settle lawsuits he had filed against the media companies. The bill, the Presidential Library Anti-Corruption Act of 2025, is spearheaded by Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who has called Paramount's settlement with Trump tantamount to bribery, alleging the payment represents a quid-pro-quo to secure the administration's approval for the Skydance Media deal. (Paramount, Trump and FCC Chairman Brendan Carr have said the FCC's review of the Skydance transaction is unrelated to Trump's suit against Paramount and CBS.) More from Variety Defeat the Press: How Donald Trump's Attacks on News Outlets Undermine the First Amendment Donald Trump Says Obama, Ex-FBI Director James Comey 'Made Up' the Jeffrey Epstein Files Kevin Spacey Says 'Release the Epstein Files' After Being Cited in Epstein's 2024 Unsealed Court Docs: 'For Those of Us With Nothing to Fear, the Truth Can't Come Soon Enough' In addition to the Paramount and Disney payments toward Trump's presidential library, the Democrats cited Meta's $25 million deal with Trump to settle his lawsuit over the Facebook and Instagram ban on his account after the Jan. 6, 2021, riot on Capitol Hill and a similar $10 million settlement with Elon Musk's X. Most of those funds are also targeted for Trump's presidential library. In addition, Warren called out President Trump's accepting a free Boeing luxury jet valued at $400 million from the government of Qatar, a gift that would subsequently be donated to his presidential library after he leaves office. Trump also reportedly plans to funnel leftover inaugural committee donations from corporations to his presidential library. The Democrats noted that other presidents, including Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, have also faced scrutiny over questionable donations to their libraries while in office. 'Presidential libraries should be monuments to history, not backdoor vehicles for influence,' the Democrats said in a brief outlining the legislation. The Warren-led bill is co-sponsored by Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Reps. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.), Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.) and Jamie Raskin (D-Md.). It's not clear the bill has a chance of getting through the Republican-controlled Congress, as GOP members have shown fealty to President Trump. Warren on Tuesday released an analysis finding that companies 'seeking favorable outcomes from the Trump administration have pledged to funnel at least $63 million into Trump's future presidential library.' Including the $400 million jet from Qatar, the total value of 'gifts flowing into Trump's library' is at least half a billion dollars, Warren claimed. According to the Democrats, unlike donations to presidential campaigns or inaugural committees, there are virtually no restrictions on donations to presidential libraries in U.S. law. Even while still in office, presidents can solicit 'unlimited, undisclosed donations from anyone,' including foreign nationals, lobbyists, federal contractors and corporations with business before federal agencies, for their libraries. The Presidential Library Anti-Corruption Act would specifically: Delay fundraising to start after the president leaves office, with a carveout for nonprofits: This would require that presidential libraries wait until a U.S. president leaves office before fundraising or accepting donations, except from 501(c)(3) organizations (mirroring the standard adopted by the Obama Foundation). Establish a contribution cap of $10,000 total for 501(c)(3) organizations that can donate while a president is still in office. Impose a 'cooling-off' period for donations from foreign nationals, lobbyists, contractors, and individuals seeking pardons: For an additional two years after the president leaves office, the legislation would prohibit donations from foreign nationals or foreign governments, registered lobbyists, federal contractors, and individuals seeking presidential pardons. Ban the use of presidential library donations for personal expenses or unrelated financial obligations. Mandate quarterly disclosures: During the president's time in office and for five years after, require all donations of $200 or more to be disclosed to the National Archives each calendar quarter. Publish donor information (including name, employer, and date and amount of the donation) online in a searchable, downloadable format. Prohibit straw donations: Make it illegal to donate in someone else's name or to knowingly allow your name to be used for a straw donation. According to the congressional Democrats, the bill is endorsed by: the Project On Government Oversight (POGO), Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), Democracy Defenders Action (DDA), Campaign Legal Center (CLC), Freedom of the Press Foundation, Public Citizen, Society for Historians of American Foreign Relations, Demand Progress and the American Governance Institute. Best of Variety 'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts? Final Emmy Predictions: Talk Series and Scripted Variety - New Blood Looks to Tackle Late Night Staples Oscars 2026: George Clooney, Jennifer Lopez, Julia Roberts, Wagner Moura and More Among Early Contenders to Watch
