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Corruption in Asia

Sabah Chief Minister Hajiji Noor. Photo: Facebook

My Take | As Sabah faces new bribery case, will it pay dividends for power seekers?

A whistle-blower has alleged corruption involving a ‘top leader’, prompting Chief Minister Hajiji Noor to dismiss speculation about his role.

Daim Zainuddin acquitted of graft charges by Malaysian court after his death

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Widow of Malaysia’s Daim insists on case against late ex-minister to go on

South Korea’s opposition chief indicted for misuse of public funds

Already embroiled in multiple legal battles, Lee Jae-myung’s indictment could jeopardise his anticipated bid for the presidency in 2027.

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South Korea’s main opposition Democratic Party Leader Lee Jae-myung speaks as he leaves court on Friday after being convicted on charges of violating election law. Photo: Reuters

Daim Zainuddin’s complex legacy and the twilight of Malaysia’s old guard

With the ex-minister’s death, questions arise about the enduring impact of cronyism and the possibility of a new political era in Malaysia.

Malaysia’s Sabah chief minister denies involvement in bribery scandal

Sabah Chief Minister Hajiji Noor is being implicated as the ‘top leader’ in alleged attempts to bribe local elected representatives.

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Malaysia’s ‘Fat Leonard’ gets 15 years’ jail for US Navy corruption scandal

The former fugitive provided prostitutes, first-class travel, luxury hotel stays and cash bribes to US naval officers, court documents show.

Leonard Francis ran a military contracting company out of Singapore known as Glenn Defense Marine Asia. Photo: Handout

Malaysian ex-PM Najib fails to end 5-year trial over 1MDB scandal

Court orders former leader to enter a defence over allegations that he took more than US$500 million in bribes linked to state fund 1MDB.

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Opinion | In Vietnam, political stability may end up being too much of a good thing

Foreign investors and diplomats might soon start looking back with nostalgia on the days of dispute within Vietnam’s Communist Party.

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Malaysia PM Anwar responds to Najib’s 1MDB apology

The 71-year-old Najib apologised last week for mishandling the scandal that saw US$4.5 billion stolen from state coffers during his time in office.

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Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim accepted an apology from Najib Razak for the 1MDB scandal. Photo: AFP

Malaysians left incredulous by apology from disgraced ex-PM Najib

Malaysians slam ‘disingenuous apology’ for 1MDB scandal, scoff at former leader’s claim he was misled by associates.

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Royal Malaysia Police officers escort the former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak (centre), who is in a wheelchair, as he arrives at the Kuala Lumpur High Court on September 30. Photo: EPA-EFE

Najib apologises, without accepting full blame, for Malaysia’s 1MDB scandal

The jailed former prime minister’s partial apology comes as the government considers sentencing reforms that may enable his early release.

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Vietnam parliament elects army general Luong Cuong as state president

Cuong, 67, takes over from To Lam, who was appointed president in May and then also became party chief.

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Singapore’s Iswaran case a ‘wake-up call’, could raise grey areas on gifts

Some members of the private sector who juggle public roles urge more clarity about the length and breadth of corruption rules in Singapore.

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Singapore’s former transport minister S. Iswaran was convicted of accepting gifts while in office. Photo: AFP

Reflections | When officials in drought-prone part of China committed huge fraud

In a case that shocked China 250 years ago, officials were punished for fraud involving donations in return for university places.

A culprit before a magistrate in 18th century China in an 1801 engraving for a British magazine. Photo: Getty Images

Vietnam sentences death row tycoon to life imprisonment for money laundering

Truong My Lan was already convicted in April by the same Ho Chi Minh City court of fraud amounting to US$12.5 billion.

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Malaysia nepotism outrage over role for Najib’s daughter

Nooryana Najwa Najib, the daughter of Malaysia’s jailed ex-PM Najib Razak, has landed a key role at Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation.

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Reflections | Official corruption isn’t new, but first recorded case in China was unusual

Yangshe Fu, Chinese history’s first recorded corrupt official, was killed after accepting a nobleman’s daughter as a bribe in a court case.

Former transport minister S. Iswaran (centre) and his lawyer at the High Court in Singapore on October 3, 2024. Photo: AP

Singapore’s Iswaran will not appeal against 12 months’ sentence

The former transport minister says he will begin his one-year jail term on Monday and ‘apologises unreservedly to all Singaporeans’.

Who is Ong Beng Seng, the tycoon linked to Singapore’s ex-minister Iswaran?

Ong, known as a ‘risk taker’ and ‘shrewd businessman’ with a penchant for closing deals, has also had brushes with controversy.

Singapore charges tycoon Ong Beng Seng over ex-minister Iswaran’s case

Ong faces one charge of abetting a public servant to obtain valuable gifts and another of obstructing justice.

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Malaysian property tycoon Ong Beng Seng arrives at the State Courts in Singapore on Friday. Photo: Reuters

Daim Zainuddin’s wife steps into spotlight amid Malaysia’s corruption probe

Naimah Khalid claims the ‘trumped-up [corruption] charges’ against her and her husband, Daim Zainuddin, were ‘instigated by Anwar Ibrahim’.

Wife of ex-finance minister Daim Zainuddin, Naimah Khalid, speaks to the media after a court session in Kuala Lumpur in January. Photo: EPA-EFE

Singapore ex-minister Iswaran sentenced to 1 year in jail for receiving gifts

A judge said Iswaran’s high level of office meant he was more culpable, handing down a jail term longer than the six to seven months sought by the prosecution.

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‘Vendetta’: Daim Zainuddin’s wife files police report against Malaysia PM Anwar

Daim’s wife filed a police report against Anwar and said he is targeting her husband as part of a ‘conspiracy’ against his political rivals.

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Malaysian PM had no role in graft probe into rival Mahathir: senior Anwar aide

Malaysia denies PM Anwar ordered anti-graft probe into rival Mahathir, calling allegations a ‘malicious attempt’ to destabilise the government.

Anwar Ibrahim (left) and Mahathir Mohamad during a campaign event in October 2018. Photo: EPA-EFE

Singapore ex-minister convicted, prosecution asks for 6 to 7 months’ jail

S Iswaran, Singapore’s ex-transport minister, will be sentenced on October 3 for obtaining gifts as a public servant and obstructing justice.

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Singapore’s former transport minister S. Iswaran (centre) arrives at the High Court on Tuesday. Photo: EPA-EFE

‘High stakes’: Singapore’s ex-transport chief Iswaran to stand trial on Tuesday

The trial, set for Tuesday, could challenge the PAP’s image and bring lesser-known aspects of public service to light, observers say.

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Vietnam death row tycoon faces money laundering trial

She and her 33 co-defendants face new charges of money laundering, illegal cross-border trafficking of cash and fraud.

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Corruption in Asia
The latest news, analysis and opinion on Corruption in Asia. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.
last updated:
9 September, 2024
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