Latest news with #anti-corruption
Washington Post
10 hours ago
- General
- Washington Post
Serbia's protesting students rally across the country to mark 7 months since train station tragedy
BELGRADE, Serbia — Thousands of people on Sunday vowed to keep on fighting for justice and rule of law in Serbia as they demanded that President Aleksandar Vucic call a snap parliamentary election following months of persistent demonstrations that have challenged his firm grip on power in the Balkan country. Protesters led by university students blocked bridges in the capital Belgrade and rallied in 30 other Serbian cities and towns as they also marked exactly seven months since a concrete canopy collapsed at a train station in the north , killing 16 people and sparking the massive wave of anti-corruption protests. 'The whole of Serbia has risen,' protesting students said in a speech that was read at all the rallies at the same time. 'There will be no more silence, there will be no more surrender!' Many people in Serbia believe that the deadly Nov. 1 canopy collapse in Novi Sad was the result of flawed renovation work on the station building, and they link the disaster to alleged government corruption in major infrastructure projects with Chinese state companies. Vucic, whom critics have accused of imposing authoritarian rule in Serbia since coming to power over a decade ago, initially dismissed the possibility of holding early elections but on Friday suggested they could take place, though without saying exactly when. Sunday's protests included commemoration ceremonies for the victims of the Novi Sad crash and student marches and blockades. In Belgrade, crowds halted traffic at two key bridges over the Sava River for three hours, while protesters in Novi Sad carried a white wreath for the canopy collapse victims as they walked toward the crash site. Mina Miletic, from Belgrade, said she is encouraged by so many people fighting together for the same goal: 'The rule of law and life in a decent country.' Vucic has accused the protesters of working for unspecified Western powers to 'destroy Serbia.' Pro-government media on Sunday described the blockades in Belgrade as 'terror' and alleged falsely that 'only a handful' of people joined the rallies. Most media in Serbia are controlled by the ruling populists, often lashing out at government opponents and accusing them of anti-state activities. The student movement is seeking a snap vote, arguing that the current government cannot meet their demands for justice for the crash victims. Presidential and parliamentary elections are otherwise due some time in 2027. No one has been sentenced in connection with the tragedy in Novi Sad and doubts prevail that ongoing legal proceedings will uncover the alleged corruption behind the crash. Serbia is formally seeking European Union entry but the ruling populists have been accused of clamping down on democratic freedoms , including free media. Vucic's authorities have stepped up pressure on protesters, including police detentions, intimidation and physical attacks.
BBC News
3 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Sussex Police needs to improve staff vetting
Sussex Police needs to improve its vetting of staff, professional standards and anti-corruption processes to ensure it is serving the public, a watchdog has Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) report stated there was a "huge backlog of vetting" to be done for the force's staff and that some employees were working in a job "without the proper level of clearance".Inspectors found the force's anti-corruption unit to be "understaffed" and said it was "not acting fast enough" on complaints from the public. A Sussex Police spokesperson said: "We accept the findings and are fully committed to continuing the work that's already ongoing to optimise these improvements." The HMIC report stated the force's vetting unit "doesn't have enough staff to meet the demand it faces". It said Sussex Police "should understand the level of vetting" required for all posts and that "all staff should have been vetted to a high enough level for the posts they hold". At the time of the inspection, the force had a workload of 1,178 applications waiting to be processed. "It acknowledged that it isn't taking effective steps to prioritise higher-risk cases within this workload," the report said. 'A challenge for the force' The HMIC report highlighted the need to improve timeliness in recording and handling of complaint and conduct allegations, the standard of investigation and resolution of conduct allegations as well as the documentation of complaints and conduct stated many complaints were suitable for resolution by the public confidence team. Such complaints should be dealt with "in a timely manner", the report said. "At the time of our inspection, this is a challenge for the force."Inspectors found staffing levels in the force's anti-corruption unit "don't meet current demand".The report said: "The force lacks capacity to monitor its computer systems, including mobile data. "It needs such monitoring to protect its data and to identify misconduct, data breaches, and computer misuse."Deputy Chief Constable Dave McLaren, from Sussex Police, said: "We absolutely recognise the importance of police legitimacy and how crucial it is that the public have confidence in us as a force to uphold the expected standards of professional behaviour."The force has worked hard to improve internal culture and standards."We have also introduced new governance and new process and practice to improve culture and leadership throughout Sussex Police."
ABC News
3 days ago
- General
- ABC News
Fiji president suspends anti-corruption commissioner
Fiji's anti-corruption chief has been suspended and her deputy sacked as police investigate her appointment to the top post. Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka says Fiji's President has initiated the suspension following the recommendations of a Commission of Inquiry into the appointment of the head of the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption. Mr Rabuka says FICAC Commissioner Barbara Malimali's suspension comes into immediate effect as police investigate allegations laid out in the report. He did not reveal the allegations but said Deputy Commissioner Lisiate Fotofili's appointment has been rescinded. The ABC's reporter in Fiji Lice Movono said there are concerns that the suspension did not go through the Judicial Services Commission and it may be challenged in court.
Bloomberg
4 days ago
- Health
- Bloomberg
China Probes Former Food and Drug Authority Chief for Violation
Beijing is investigating Bi Jingquan, a deputy chief of the economic affairs committee under China's top political advisory body, for alleged law violations, according to a Thursday statement from the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection. The anti-corruption watchdog gave no details about the suspected violations. Bi, 69, served as the chief of the China Food and Drug Administration from 2015 to 2018, when he introduced regulatory overhauls that spurred innovation in China's pharmaceutical sector.
Free Malaysia Today
5 days ago
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Better a parent-offspring tag team than one comprising ‘yes men'
From Walter Sandosam Pursuant to the latest PKR party elections, insinuations have been made on nepotism and the possible creation of political dynasties. The incumbent deputy president, Rafizi Ramli, had fallen out of favour. Congratulations to Nurul Izzah Anwar, who has proved herself worthy. She has indicated in her speech to the delegates on her stance on the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission. We don't need data analytics when grassroots support is waning. Some of us are caught up by the term 'nepotism' so much so that we are blinded to ideals being expressed. When views are diametrically opposed, it reveals the presence of intelligent thought. Reform in its true sense, notwithstanding the obvious linkage by blood. While there may be areas of agreement between the top two in the party, on one topic, there is divergence – the extension of the tenure of the top graft-buster. It has been termed 'unwelcome'; a sentiment shared by a number of NGOs and political observers. MACC needs reform and it needs it yesterday beginning at the top. It has been much delayed. Aspirations to be in the top third of anti-corruption international rankings will come to naught given the misgivings being openly expressed by various quarters. The new deputy president has seen that, in direct contrast to the president who speaks of the 'courage' of the chief commissioner to go after the 'big fish', there is something amiss. Let us not live in a delusionary world here. Azam's personal case on shares some years back, his encounter with the chief justice on investigating a judge and, more recently, the apparent feet dragging on the Sabah mining scandal videos and the instance of procedural missteps on investigations on Pamela Ling – 'suspect or witness' categorisation – speak for itself. On 'big fish', as alluded to, in the past, an ex-Selangor menteri besar was charged, some years ago, with corruption for purchasing property 'below market value' from a party that had then dealings with the state. He was convicted of corruption and served time. In 2018, another chief minister was on trial on a similar offence with the same core ingredients. In his wisdom, the deputy public prosecutor asked for a discharge not amounting to acquittal (DNAA). This request was couched in words, which still astounds legal minds. It allowed the judge the latitude to grant a DAA as opposed to the requested DNAA. All is above board, but it is pertinent to point out that the said accused, at the time of the trial, was already appointed a federal minister under the post-2018 elections regime. Hence, the MACC has gone after 'big fish' in the past, not to mention the many other cases, especially against some persistently corrupt enforcement agencies. So much for the reform agenda. The first revamp was pursuant to the MACC Act 2009 with the appointment of oversight panels. It was precipitated by allegations of political interference. Sadly, these oversight panels seem to have either lost purpose or taken a hike into the wilds and got lost. It is interesting to note that the defeated PKR deputy president has maintained a stoic silence on the extension of appointment of Azam. This is rather astounding as just prior to the 2022 election date, he had made remarks which could be interpreted that he will 'go looking' for Azam. This was pursuant to MACC's 'visits' to his company Invoke presumably looking for records. These have since been defended as political soundbytes – a convenient term. Will new evidence now mysteriously appear for MACC to reopen investigations as in the case of an investigation into billions stashed away overseas which need to be traced now through Mutual Legal Assistance agreements? On the reform agenda, again, it is taking forever and a day on another issue with a 'promise' now that it can possibly be resolved before the next general election. Empirical studies are superfluous when deciding on a conceptual issue – the separation of the duties of the attorney-general and the public prosecutor. Let's not forget it was part of the reform agenda. Let us not be blinded by terminologies, namely nepotism. It is better to have a parent-offspring tag team than with one of all 'yes men', who have conveniently forgotten the essence of 'reform'. The new deputy president should use her position wisely to promote good governance, lest she lose her credibility – start with the MACC chief commissioner as highlighted by many quarters. Walter Sandosam is a past member of MACC's independent operations review panel and an FMT reader. The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.
