Transparency International's weekly newsletter and supplement to our Daily Corruption News, 26 May 2017

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Hi there,

Recent days saw massive and often violent protests from citizens in Venezuela, Tunisia, Brazil, Morocco, and the Dominican Republic who are outraged by corruption and unresponsive politics.

Last Saturday in Venezuela, protestors came out en masse to mark the 50th day of demonstrations against the government of Nicolás Maduro. At least 56 people have been killed in two months of protests over what amounts to grand corruption. We have called on the Venezuelan authorities to stop the use of violence and end human rights abuses.

Read our full statement on Venezuela and learn more about grand corruption.

In Tunisia, violence erupted on Monday when demonstrators demanded that the government use oil revenue to reduce joblessness; one protestor was killed. Meanwhile, the nephew of the deposed president Ben Ali gave extraordinary testimony detailing the former regime's system of kickbacks and corruption. He also alleged that many of the same practices persist today. In response, the government announced a 'war on corruption' and arrested three businessmen and a customs official suspected of graft.

Brasilia was in flames this week. Protestors want Brazil's president Michel Temer to resign over allegations he authorised hush money to impede a corruption investigation. Ominously, Temer sent soldiers to the streets to quell protests, before revoking the order.

In Morocco, thousands marched again to protest injustice and corruption, seven months after a fisherman was crushed to death inside a garbage truck while trying to retrieve fish confiscated by police.

And in the Dominican Republic, the Marcha Verde (Green March) continued last weekend. Since January, people around the country have dressed in green and swarmed the streets once a month. Originally spurred by bribery revelations emerging from the Odebrecht scandal, the green marchers are increasingly targeting other forms of government waste and patronage.

More of this week's corruption stories below...

News from Transparency International

Image of Cayman Islands
 

Who doesn't know the Cayman Islands is a great place to hide money? The Cayman Islands

In May, the Cayman Islands government quietly released a report that just about acknowledges the country's deficiencies at thwarting money laundering. Have a look at our take.

Recipe for secrecy

Tweet
 

Help us tell the EU to look into the tricks people use to hide assets and avoid tax. Learn more at transparency.eu/dodgy/

 

Corruption in the news this week

Bribery is bad for business

Global : Petrofac suspends top executive amid SFO corruption probe
The Telegraph (25 May)

Petrofac has suspended its chief operating officer after the Serious Fraud Office swooped on the oil services group earlier this month as part of the global probe into the Unaoil corruption scandal.

 
Brazil: Brazil meatpacker plunges 30% amid presidential bribery probe
CNN (22 May)

After a week of crippling corruption revelations, the world's largest meatpacking company JBS SA fell more than 30% in Brazil's stock market Monday. It's the stock's worst drop ever in a single day.

 

Culture of cover-ups?

USA: Ethics agency rejects White House move to block ethics waiver disclosures
NPR (22 May)
 
USA: US admits DEA lied about Honduras 'massacre' that killed four villagers
The Guardian (25 May)
 
USA: Top Democrat sees 'pattern of cover-up' in Trump administration
The Hill (25 May)
 

Other news

Australia: Workers scared to blow bribery whistle
Australia Financial Review (23 May)
 
China: China executes former Inner Mongolia police chief for murder and bribery
South China Morning Post (26 May)
 
France: Macron government denies ethical misstep by minister
Reuters (25 May)
 
Panama: Ex-Panamanian president’s team denies Interpol capture order for Martinelli
Latin America Herald Tribune (23 May)
 
South Korea: South Korea's Park denies charges as corruption trial begins
Associated Press (23 May)
 

Blogs and opinion

Global: I’m a reporter in Mexico. My life is in danger. The United States wouldn’t give me asylum.
Washington Post (25 May)
 
Brazil: Brazil’s Car Wash scandal reveals a country soaked in corruption
Bloomberg Businessweek (25 May)
 

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