Archive for ‘corruption’

25/02/2012

* Chinese death penalty for toxic cooking oil

Times of India: ” Chinese authorities have promised death penalty for those involved in the “gutter oil” scam involving unhygienic recycling of edible oil used in restaurants.

“Courts must give full consideration to suspects’ subjective malignance, the amount of money involved and the harm done to public and the market when ruling in gutter oil cases. For those deserving death, death penalties must be resolutely given,” an official notice said. Authorities have found it hard to control the scam that involves private businesses collecting used edible oils from restaurants and selling it back to them after filtration. Chinese media have been running reports about the unhygienic recycling conditions.

Government officials, who fail to fulfill duties related to oil safety, would also be punished.”

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/china/Toxic-oil-scam-China-pledges-death-penalty/articleshow/12027834.cms

Another example of actions the Chinese government is taking about corruption and pollution.  Well done!

24/02/2012

* Anti-corruption ‘crusader’ donates award money to trust

The Hindu: “Anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare on Thursday vowed to continue his long battle to root out corruption from the system saying he has lived for the country and would die for it.

Speaking after receiving the S. R. Jindal Prize from Sri Sri Ravi Shankar at a function here, Mr. Hazare said: “When I was 26-year-old I had decided to live and die for the country. I left my home and did not return. I have no bank balance and all the awards I have received have gone to the Hind Swaraj Trust. The interest earned from the money goes into the expenditure incurred on wedding of youngsters. This award (Rs.25 lakh) will also go to the trust.”

Asserting that he does not accept awards from people or organisations whose hands are tainted, Mr. Hazare said: “Recently I refused to accept an award because the person did not have a clean track record. This award has been presented to me by an incorruptible person and a clean organisation.”

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article2925463.ece

23/02/2012

* China passes regulations to curb nepotism at work

China Daily: ” China has issued regulations to limit public servants’ association with their spouses and relatives at work, a move hoped to curb corruption and interferences with their duties.

Civil servants and their spouses, relatives within three generations or relatives-in-law can not hold two posts which report to the same director, nor should they have the director-subordinate work relationship, according to the regulations.

In terms of geographical limitations, the regulations say that civil servants may not serve as heads of prefecture-level Communist Party of China (CPC) committees or governments in their hometowns.

Civil servants are also not allowed to assume top posts in prefecture-level discipline inspection commissions, procuratorates, courts or police departments in their hometowns, according tothe regulations.

Civil servants are also asked to avoid situations such as recruitment, promotion or demotion of staff, taxation and approval for going abroad, that involve their relatives.

Those who do not abide by the regulations could be removed from office, according to the regulations jointly issued by the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee andthe Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security.

If two civil servants marry or form a new relationship that “should be avoided,” their posts will be adjusted, according to the regulations.”

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2012-02/23/content_14679918.htm

16/02/2012

* Chinese football refs face up to 7 years jail-life for match-fixing

Xinhua: “Four famous Chinese football referees, including former “Golden Whistle” Lu Jun were sentenced to from at least three and a half to most seven years imprisonment for match-fixing after the first trial by the Intermediate People’s Court of Dandong here on Thursday.

Chinese best known referee Lu Jun, who had officiated in the 2002 South Korea/Japan FIFA World Cup and 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, was sentenced to five and a half years imprisonment for taking a total of 810,000 yuan(about 128,657 U.S. dollars) in bribes for fixing seven league matches involving four clubs. Lu was also had personal property worth 100,000 yuan (about 15,880 U.S. dollars) confiscated.

Lu’s three colleagues Huang Junjie, Zhou Weixin and Wan Daxue, were sentenced to seven, three and a half and six years in jail respectively for fixing league matches and even some international friendlies among clubs.

The judge convicted Huang Junjie of taking 1,480,000 yuan and 100,000 Hongkong dollars (about 247,975 U.S. dollars) in 21 cases. Huang was also confiscated personal assets worth 200,000 yuan (about 31,760 U.S. dollars).”

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2012-02/16/c_131414053.htm

This news – together with one recently about food contamination and cadmium pollutions and so forth –  is an indication that China is tightening up its stance on corruption.

09/02/2012

* Chinese vice premier urges harsh punishments for food safety violations

Xinhua: “Vice Premier Li Keqiang on Wednesday called for strict and harsh punishments against food safety violations and urged strengthened supervision to ensure food safety.

Li, also head of the food safety commission under the State Council, or China’s cabinet, told participants at a plenary meeting of the commission that authorities should take a pro-active approach to deter violations.

Prominent problems that threaten food safety have not been fundamentally rooted up, and China still faces a grave situation in ensuring its food safety, he said at the meeting.

China will continue its heavy-handed measures against criminal offenses in food scandals and seek to establish a long-term mechanism to check food safety in 2012, Li said at the meeting, during which an agenda for the priorities of China’s annual food safety work was reviewed.”

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2012-02/08/c_131399200.htm

Li Keqiang is the expected Premier-to-be when the top two posts change hands late this year/early next year in the Chinese decennial handover. For more on this go to http://chovanec.wordpress.com/2011/05/08/primer-on-chinas-leadership-transition/#comment-4286

03/02/2012

* Indian Supreme Court cancels all 122 telecoms licences

Declaring the allocation of 2G spectrum by the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government “illegal” and an example of the arbitrary exercise of power, the Supreme Court on Thursday cancelled all 122 telecom licences allotted on or after January 10, 2008 to 11 companies during the tenure of the former telecom minister, A. Raja.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article2853159.ece

Mr Raja is charged with corruption.

This ruling, although deemed to be a step in the right direction, makes foreign investors nervous as it means any past deals, if proven to be corrupt, could be overturned, several years later.

For a view about corruption in India go to http://chindiapedia.org/Indianpitfalls.aspx

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