Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption

Last updated

The Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) is the country's mandated law enforcement agency to investigate and prosecute public sector corruption, as well as educate society on understanding and reporting corruption.

Contents

It was established by the FICAC Act No 11 of 2007, [1] and began operations in April of the same year.

The Constitution of the Republic of Fiji [2] stipulates that the Commission may investigate, institute and conduct criminal proceedings, take over investigations and criminal proceedings that fall under its responsibility and functions as prescribed by law, and which may have been initiated by another person or authority and discontinue, at any stage before judgment is delivered, criminal proceedings instituted or conducted by it.

Until 2023 FICAC was headed by a Deputy Commissioner, who is appointed by the President of Fiji. In 2023 Mr Rashmi Aslam was appointed FICAC's first Commissioner. Mr Aslam was appointed Deputy Commissioner after the retirement of Mr George Langman in 2019. Mr Aslam served as the Acting Deputy Commissioner from April 2019 until his official appointment as the Deputy Commissioner in May 2020. Mr Aslam Resigned on the 5th of September 2023. On the 22 of September 2023 Ratu David Toganivalu was appointed Acting Commissioner but died on Sunday the 1st of October 2023. The position of Commissioner is currently vacant.

Function

The FICAC Act No. 11 and the Prevention of Bribery Act No. 12 of 2007 gives the Commission unique powers to investigate, advise and prosecute cases involving public sector corruption.

The commission also has powers to investigate and prosecute breaches under the Crimes Act of 2009, [3] Electoral (Registration of Voters) Act No. 54 of 2012, [4] Political Parties Act No. 4 of 2013, [5] and the Electoral Act of 2014. [6] It is the primary objective of FICAC to promote the integrity and accountability of public administration and educating and enlisting public support to combat corruption.

FICAC acceded to the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) [7] on 14 May 2008 and volunteered for a Pilot Review Program by Serbia and France in 2009.

In 2012, Fiji became one of the first 28 State Parties to be reviewed on its implementation of UNCAC by Bangladesh and the United States of America in a peer review process. [8]

FACE

The Fiji Anti-Corruption and Ethics Centre [9] was created in 2017 to provide its viewers with access to anti-corruption information and education materials.

Visitors to the page can read and download annual reports, statistics, anti-corruption policies and all published work of the commission.

This online resource centre acts as an avenue for building a strong brand amongst its stakeholders and provide a platform for exchanging ideas and proposals to tackle corruption.

Anti-corruption policy templates available on this page can assist organisations who have yet to develop any system of internal controls to identify and prevent corruption.

The Commission acknowledges and realises that information is absolutely vital to creating a culture of empowerment and that once this is achieved, there will be more people speaking out and against corruption in the country.

Reporting corruption

Anyone wishing to report suspected corrupt activity can visit the FICAC website to lodge it online. [10]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Independent Commission Against Corruption (New South Wales)</span> Anti-corruption agency in New South Wales, Australia

The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) is an integrity agency of the Government of New South Wales responsible for eliminating and investigating corrupt activities and enhancing the integrity of the state's public administration. The commission was established in 1989, pursuant to the Independent Commission Against Corruption Act, 1988 (NSW), modeled after the ICAC in Hong Kong.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime</span> Intergovernmental organization

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime is a United Nations office that was established in 1997 as the Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention by combining the United Nations International Drug Control Program (UNDCP) and the Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Division in the United Nations Office at Vienna, adopting the current name in 2002.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Nations Convention Against Corruption</span> Anti-corruption treaty

The United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) is the only legally binding international anti-corruption multilateral treaty. Negotiated by member states of the United Nations (UN) it has been adopted by the UN General Assembly in October 2003 and entered into force in December 2005. The treaty recognises the importance of both preventive and punitive measures, addresses the cross-border nature of corruption with provisions on international cooperation and on the return of the proceeds of corruption. The UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Vienna serves as Secretariat for the UNCAC. UNCAC's goal is to reduce various types of corruption that can occur across country borders, such as trading in influence and abuse of power, as well as corruption in the private sector, such as embezzlement and money laundering. Another goal of the UNCAC is to strengthen international law enforcement and judicial cooperation between countries by providing effective legal mechanisms for international asset recovery.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Prosecuting Authority</span> South African government agency

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) is the agency of the South African Government responsible for state prosecutions. Under Section 179 of the South African Constitution and the National Prosecuting Authority Act of 1998, which established the NPA in 1998, the NPA has the power to institute criminal proceedings on behalf of the state and to carry out any necessary functions incidental to institution of criminal proceedings. The NPA is accountable to Parliament, and final responsibility over it lies with the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Commission Against Corruption</span> Anti-corruption agency in Macau

The Commission Against Corruption is the statutory independent anti-corruption body of Macau with the primary objective of combating corruption, bribery, and other illicit activities in both the public and private sectors. Established in 1999 under the Article 59 of the Macau Basic Law, the CCAC is headed by the Commissioner, who reports directly to the Chief Executive of Macau.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Central Vigilance Commission</span> Apex Indian governmental body created in 1964 to address governmental corruption

Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) is an apex Indian governmental body created in 1964 to address governmental corruption. In 2003, the Parliament enacted a law conferring statutory status on the CVC. It has the status of an autonomous body, free of control from any executive authority, charged with monitoring all vigilance activity under the Central Government of India, advising various authorities in central Government organizations in planning, executing, reviewing and reforming their vigilance work.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Director of Public Prosecutions (Fiji)</span>

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) Fiji is an independent office by virtue of section 117 of the 2013 Constitution of Fiji. The ODPP is motivated by the principle that it is in the interest of justice that the guilty be brought to justice and the innocent are not wrongly convicted.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anti-Corruption Commission (Bangladesh)</span> Government anti-corruption agency, Bangladesh

The Anti Corruption Commission is the principal government agency against corruption in Bangladesh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">International asset recovery</span> Any effort by governments to repatriate the proceeds of corruption hidden in foreign jurisdictions

International asset recovery is any effort by governments to repatriate the proceeds of corruption hidden in foreign jurisdictions. Such assets may include monies in bank accounts, real estate, vehicles, arts and artifacts, and precious metals. As defined under the United Nations Convention against Corruption, asset recovery refers to recovering the proceeds of corruption, rather than broader terms such as asset confiscation or asset forfeiture which refer to recovering the proceeds or instrumentalities of crime in general.

The Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), is a Nigerian agency that was inaugurated on 29 September 2000 following the recommendation of President Olusegun Obasanjo. The mandate is to receive and investigate reports of corruption and in appropriate cases prosecute the offender(s), to examine, review and enforce the correction of corruption prone systems and procedures of public bodies, with a view to eliminating corruption in public life, and to educate and enlighten the public on and against corruption and related offences with a view to enlisting and fostering public support for the fight against corruption. The Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Act 2000 governs the committee's activities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice</span> Ghanaian independent government organization

The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice(CHRAJ) is an independent governmental organization charged with safeguarding of human rights and investigating human rights abuses in Ghana. It was established in 1993 by Act 456 of the Parliament of Ghana as directed by Article 216 of the 1992 Ghana constitution.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Corruption in the Philippines</span> State of corruption in the country

The Philippines suffers from widespread corruption, which developed during the Spanish colonial period. According to GAN Integrity's Philippines Corruption Report updated May 2020, the Philippines suffers from many incidents of corruption and crime in many aspects of civic life and in various sectors. Such corruption risks are rampant throughout the state's judicial system, police service, public services, land administration, and natural resources. Examples of corruption in the Philippines include graft, bribery, favouritism, nepotism, impunity, embezzlement, extortion, racketeering, fraud, tax evasion, lack of transparency, lack of sufficient enforcement of laws and government policies, and consistent lack of support for human rights.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Corruption in New Zealand</span> Institutional corruption in the country

This article discusses the responsibilities of the various agencies involved in combating corruption in New Zealand. New Zealand is regarded as having one of the lowest levels of corruption in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine</span> Ukrainian watchdog agency

National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine or NABU is a Ukrainian law enforcement anti-corruption agency which investigates corruption in Ukraine and prepares cases for prosecution. It has investigatory powers but cannot indict suspects. Only agency findings passed to the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office become a part of criminal case.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Corruption in Papua New Guinea</span>

Corruption is rife in Papua New Guinea (PNG). According to The Economist, "PNG's governments are notorious for corruption, and ever run the risk of turning the state into a fully-fledged kleptocracy".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Corruption in Australia</span> Institutional corruption in the country

Corruption can take many forms, and can distort how public policy is made or implemented. This article discusses the responsibilities of the various agencies involved in combating corruption in Australia. While Australia is a wealthy democracy, over the decade since 2012, Australia's ranking in the Corruption Perceptions Index from Transparency International has slipped from 7th place in 2012 to 13th in 2022, where the country ranked first is perceived to have the most honest public sector. Additionally, there is a public perception that corruption in Australia is increasing. All states have broad-based anti-corruption agencies, and a national anti-corruption commission has been operational since July 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abdullahi Umar Ganduje</span> Nigerian politician (born 1949)

Abdullahi Umar Ganduje is a Nigerian politician who served as the governor of Kano State from 2015 to 2023. He previously served as Rabiu Kwankwaso's deputy governor twice, from 1999 to 2003 and from 2011 to 2015. He is a member and national chairman of the ruling Party All Progressives Congress (APC).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Corruption in Ecuador</span> Institutional corruption in the country

Corruption in Ecuador is a serious problem. In 2014, the U.S. Department of State cited Ecuador's corruption as a key human-rights problem. According to Freedom House, "Ecuador has long been racked by corruption", and the weak judicial oversight and investigative resources perpetuate a culture of impunity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Corruption in Azerbaijan</span> Institutional corruption in the country

Corruption in Azerbaijan is considered high and occurs at all levels of government. In Transparency International's 2022 Corruption Perceptions Index, which ranked 180 countries from those perceived to be least corrupt to those perceived to be very corrupt, Azerbaijan was ranked 128, compared to 45 for its northwestern neighbor Georgia and 58 for its western neighbor Armenia. In the Azerbaijani laundromat money-laundering scheme, $2.9 billion was paid to foreign politicians and Azerbaijani elites by companies linked to Azerbaijani ruler Ilham Aliyev, government ministries, and the International Bank of Azerbaijan between 2012 and 2014. Azerbaijan is a member of Group of States Against Corruption (GRECO) and OECD's Anti-Corruption Network.

Anti-corruption comprises activities that oppose or inhibit corruption. Just as corruption takes many forms, anti-corruption efforts vary in scope and in strategy. A general distinction between preventive and reactive measures is sometimes drawn. In such framework, investigative authorities and their attempts to unveil corrupt practices would be considered reactive, while education on the negative impact of corruption, or firm-internal compliance programs are classified as the former.

References

  1. "Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption : Act No 11 of 2007 with amendments" (PDF). FICAC. Archived from the original (PDF) on Oct 18, 2019. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
  2. "Constitution of the Republic of Fiji" (PDF). FICAC. Archived from the original (PDF) on Oct 18, 2019. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
  3. "Crimes Decree 2009 (Decree No. 44 of 2009)" (PDF). Republic of Fiji Islands Government Gazette. FICAC. Archived from the original (PDF) on Oct 18, 2019. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
  4. "Electoral (Registration of Voters)" (PDF). FICAC. Archived from the original (PDF) on Oct 18, 2019. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
  5. "Political Parties Act 2013" (PDF). Fijian Elections Office. Archived from the original (PDF) on Oct 18, 2019. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
  6. "ELECTORAL ACT 2014" (PDF). Fijian Elections Office. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
  7. "UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION AGAINST CORRUPTION" (PDF). FICAC. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
  8. "Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption" (PDF). FICAC. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
  9. "FACE - Home". FICAC. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
  10. "FICAC -Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption". FICAC. Retrieved 13 March 2019.