corruption - The African Mirror

Dec

2022

Corruption in South Africa: new book lifts the lid on who profits – and their corporate enablers

KEITH GOTTSCHALK THE new book The Unaccountables: The Powerful Politicians and Corporations who Profit from Impunity is welcome for the way it contextualises corruption. It shows how politicians and bureaucrats could not implement corruption without their corporate and professional enablers – the accountants, auditors and advocates who make it all possible. The book is the result of a decade of research by Open Secrets and other NGOs. It is edited by Michael Marchant, Mamello Mosiana, Ra’eesa Pather and Hennie van Vuuren (a blend of investigative journalists and activists) and has 11 named contributors. Analytically, it covers four overlapping issues: crimes…

Sep

2021

By The African Mirror

Kenyan‌ ‌ex-sports‌ minister‌ ‌jailed for‌ ‌6 years‌ ‌

NEWS

A Kenyan court has sentenced a former sports minister to six years in prison after finding him guilty over the siphoning of funds meant for athletes in the Brazil Olympics five years ago. Former National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOC) official Stephen Soi and former Kenyan sports minister Hassan Wario look on during their sentencing for corruption charges in connection with the 2016 Rio Olympics funds, at the Milimani Law Courts in Nairobi, Kenya September 16, 2021. REUTERS/Monicah Mwangi The East African nation enjoyed its most successful Olympics in Rio, winning six gold medals, six silvers and one bronze in…

Jul

2021

By The African Mirror

Ivory Coast to audit dozens of state-owned firms to tackle graft

BUSINESS

ANGE ABOA IVORY Coast has launched audits of around 40 state-owned enterprises to crackdown on corruption and improve efficiency, Prime Minister Patrick Achi said. The government also wants the companies to reduce their reliance on state funds, which could instead be spent helping the economy recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, Achi told reporters. The audits come just weeks after the director-general of the Land Management Agency was arrested for alleged embezzlement and money laundering. He has not commented publicly on the allegations. "The fight against corruption and the improvement of good governance is a major focus for Ivory Coast for…

May

2021

By The African Mirror

PROBED: R109-billion graft in govt, S.O.E’s

NEWS

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER THE Special Investigations Unit (SIU) in South Africa is investigating fraud and corruption cases in government departments, state-owned enterprises and agencies involving more than R108-billion. At a webinar organised by the South African Editors Forum, Advocate Andy Mothibi, head of SIU has disclosed that investigations involving R101-billion were continuing into: Eskom.The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa.The South African Broadcasting Corporation.The Unemployment Insurance Fund.Denel.National Health Laboratory Service.Health Professionals Council of SA.SA Heritage Resource Agency.South African Airways.National Lotteries Commission.Transnet.Council of Medical Schemes. The Independent Development Trust. Mothibi said the SIU was busy with probes into contracts worth R8.6-billion in…

May

2021

By The African Mirror

The CIA, politics behind my prosecution – Zuma

NEWS

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER FORMER president Jacob Zuma has alleged that Leonard McCarthy, the ex-director of special operations in the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), was a spy working for the Central Intelligence Agency. The bombshell allegations are contained in an affidavit by Zuma in support of his application that Advocate Billy Downer, the prosecutor who has worked on the fraud and corruption case for 17 years, should recuse himself. Zuma yesterday pleaded not guilty to charges of racketeering, money laundering, fraud and corruption. In the affidavit, read in court by Advocated Dali Mpofu and Thabani Masuku, Zuma alleged that the charges…

Apr

2021

By The African Mirror

UK imposes sanctions on Guptas

NEWS

ANDREW MacASKILL BRITAIN has imposed sanctions on 14 Russians, on the Gupta family of South African businessmen and on officials accused of aiding Central American drugs cartels, in the first use of a new power to fight human rights abuses and corruption abroad. Britain's new Magnitsky act, like a similar law enacted in the United States, is named after Sergei Magnitsky, a lawyer who was arrested and later died in prison in Russia after accusing Russian officials of massive tax fraud. The new law gives the government the power to penalise those it says are credibly involved in the most…

Mar

2021

By The African Mirror

Former French president Sarkozy guilty of corruption, sentenced

WORLD

TANGI SALAUN A French court found former President Nicolas Sarkozy guilty of trying to bribe a judge and influence-peddling today and sentenced him to three years in prison, a stunning fall from grace for a man who led France and strode the world stage for five years. However, he may not spend any time in prison. Two years of the sentence were suspended, and the presiding judge said she would accept allowing him to be tagged with an electronic bracelet outside of prison for the remaining year. Sarkozy, who was president from 2007 to 2012, is the second head of…

Feb

2021

By The African Mirror

Bollore Group fined $14.5 million for Africa graft

NEWS

FRENCH group Bollore will pay a 12 million-euro ($14.55 million) fine following a transaction with prosecutors in an alleged bribery case in Africa, France's financial prosecutor disclosed yesterday. The transaction effectively puts an end to the legal proceedings in the case against the conglomerate, led by billionaire Vincent Bollore, French Financial Prosecutor Jean-François Bohnert said in a written statement. "The investigation had concerned the corruption of foreign public officials, abuse of trust and complicity in breaches of trust committed between 2009 and 2011," the financial prosecutor said. Bollore's lawyer Olivier Baratelli and Bollore's spokesman didn't answer calls seeking comment.

Jan

2021

By The African Mirror

Steinmetz denies corruption in Guinea case; says he was not in charge

NEWS

STEPHANIE NEBEHAY ISRAEL businessman Beny Steinmetz has denied any role in corruption or forgery linked to mining rights his company secured in Guinea, describing himself as the owner and company ambassador but not the boss. Steinmetz was indicted in August 2019 by a Geneva prosecutor who accused him and two aides of paying, or having paid, $10 million in bribes to obtain exploration permits for some of the world's richest iron-ore deposits in the remote Simandou mountains of Guinea. Steinmetz and his aides deny the charges. If convicted he could face up to 10 years in prison. At his court…

Oct

2020

By The African Mirror

South Africa’s Deputy President distances himself from criminal acts

NEWS

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER DAVID Mabuza, South Africa’s Deputy President, has denied any involvement in crime. Mabuza was forced to issue the denial after 11 people, including a member of parliament, Bongani Bongo, were arrested and appeared in court on charges of fraud and corruption. Bongo and 10 others appeared in court in connection with crimes committed at the time when Mabuza was the Premier of Mpumalanga province. In a statement, Mabuza’s office said while the alleged crimes took place during his tenure as Premier, he categorically denied any involvement and condemned any attempt to drag his name in any form…