1 / 26

Corruption Strategies: Challenges in implementation. The Mauritius Experience.

Corruption Strategies: Challenges in implementation. The Mauritius Experience. Navin Beekarry IMF (Commissioner, Independent Commission Against Corruption- ICAC, Mauritius, 2002-2005) 07 November 2006. Preliminary Issues. Experience: Establishment/Management Performance Assessment

declan
Download Presentation

Corruption Strategies: Challenges in implementation. The Mauritius Experience.

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript


  1. Corruption Strategies: Challenges in implementation.The Mauritius Experience. Navin Beekarry IMF (Commissioner, Independent Commission Against Corruption- ICAC, Mauritius, 2002-2005) 07 November 2006

  2. Preliminary Issues • Experience: • Establishment/Management • Performance Assessment • Standard Model • Success or failure: Indicator/s • Assumptions • Basic Conceptual framework: economic development • National problem: National Survey/Perception • Response: National Commitment • Strategy/Implementation • Challenges in Implementation • Method of evaluation: TI/GII

  3. Elements of a National AC Strategy • National Strategy • Legal Framework: • Existing criminal code or new law • UN Convention- “a la carte” • Institutional Framework • Mandate: • Holistic approach: ‘3-pronged model’ • Single mandate • Powers/Tools • Resources

  4. Legal Framework: ICAC Mauritius • Pre 2002 legal provisions • Pre-2000: only scanty provisions on bribery • Between 200-2001: Economic Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2000 • The Prevention of Corruption Act 2002: • establishes the structure • defines the mandate/powers • The Financial Intelligence and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2002 • The Prevention of Terrorism Act 2000: • Financing of terrorism

  5. The Institutional Model • Mauritius: Hong Kong/ ICAC(NSW)/ SFO • 3-Pillar approach: • Investigation/Prosecution • Education/Community Relations • Prevention • Challenges: • Benefits of the ‘3-pillar approach’ • Problems of ‘borrowed models (legislation)’

  6. Mandate/Scope of Jurisdiction • Public sector/Private sector • Judiciary/Police • Political Class- including local authorities • Independence-Accountability • International Co-operation

  7. Institutional Structure

  8. Structure and Operations • Commission leads the national strategy • Executive/Operational arms • Investigation: • Corruption • Money laundering • Education • Prevention • Support Services • Admin/Finance • Legal [Prosecution/Legal Opinions]

  9. Challenges in Implementation • Establishment • Operations • Legal Issues • Media • Transparency/confidentiality • Capacity • Co-ordination

  10. Establishment • Immediate effect: • No “staggered proclamation” • Transitional Provisions • Taking over previous workload • ‘borrowed legislation’ • Setting up operational structures • Staffing recruitment and management

  11. Operations: Investigation • Jurisdiction to investigate corruption + ML/FT • Offences: • 17 different ‘corrupt practices’ • Nature of ‘offence’: secretive • Procedure: • Complaints: anonymous/written • Whistle-blowing/witness protection • Procedural/Evidence • Prosecution • Constitutional difficulties • Absence of power to prosecute related offences

  12. Corruption Offences • Bribery by public official • Bribery of public official • Taking gratification to screen ofender • Public official using his office for gratification • Bribery of or by public official to influence decision of public body • Influencing public official • “traffic d’influence” • Public official taking gratification • Bribery for procuring public contracts • Traeting a public official • Receiving gift for a corrupt purpose • Corruption of an agent • Corruption to provoke a serious offence • Conflict of interest

  13. Powers/Tools • Investigation Powers • S.50 PCA (S2.SFO/UK); • Method of investigation- hearing • Arrest and detention • Police • Protection of witnesses-whistle blowing • Seeking and obtaining information • S.54 PCA

  14. Legal • New set of rules-new challenges • Special investigation powers • Compulsory powers • Seeking Information • Right of silence/self-incrimination • Judiciary • Tension between traditional approach and new norms • Lawyers’ responsibility: STR • Different offences • Training/Expertise

  15. Operations: Prevention (Systems Enhancement) • Objectives: • eliminate associated risks • Enhances systems’ integrity/confidence • Reduces complexities in systems • Processes/products: • On-site examination • Code of Ethics • Code of Conduct • Administrative Procedures • Benefits: • Promotes inter-agency co-operation • Supports investigation • Difficulties • Co-operation among institutions • Promoting Recommendations

  16. Operations: Education/Community Relations • Objective: raise awareness among the different stakeholders • Public; private; NGOs; trade-unions; schools; women groups; youth; police; judiciary; media; religious groups • Mobilize public support • Tool: National Strategy- • Identifies extent of problem • Determines priorities • Builds confidence and integrity • Develop culture of integrity • Supports the two other functions

  17. Community Relations: Challenges • Public Expectation • Big fish/Small fish • Manipulation by Media • Why not politicians? • National Survey

  18. International Co-operation • Mutual assistance in relation to corruption and money laundering • Authentication of documents • Providing and obtaining assistance to foreign states • Property tracking • Forfeiture and freezing of assets • Confiscation • Extradition

  19. Safeguards and Independence • 4 Oversight mechanisms • Parliamentary Committee • Corruption Advisory Committee • Operations Review Committee • Community Relations and Prevention Advisory Committee • Cumbersome Mechanism • Political: interference • Second-guessing decision • Proper Balance

  20. Independence and Accountability: Parliamentary Committee • Composition: 10 MPs • 5 Government/5 Opposition • Functions • Monitors and review general functions of Commission • Review budgetary estimates of Commission • Approves salaries and wages • Functions do not include operations, especially investigation

  21. Independence/Accountability: Corruption Advisory Committee • Consultative and advisory • General issues related to • staff, • administrative policies • Disciplinary reports • Annual estimates • Situation regarding corruption in the country • Annual report of Commission

  22. Independence /Accountability:Operations Review Committee • Only function related to investigations • Composition: • senior retired public officers • Commissioner of Police • Private sector representative • Receive or call for reports and advise the Commission: • Complaints and manner Commission is dealing with them • Investigations Commission has decided to discontinue • >6 months investigations • Search warrants issued

  23. Independence/Accountability: Community Relations and Corruption Prevention Advisory Committee • Advise Commission on strategies to reduce corruption • Design educational programs to involve the community • Practices and procedures of public bodies and private sector • Relationship between the Commission and the Press

  24. Role of Media • Transparency: recognition of role of media • Member of Advisory Committee • Meeting with Editors-in-Chief • Challenges: • Misunderstanding • Investigation-threat to integrity of system • Interest • Transparency: public v/s private rights?

  25. Co-operation • “Perfect Partners” approach • Obstruction • Refusal to collaborate • Obtaining information

  26. Thank You

More Related