Copyright: The Daily Telegraph Australia, 25th May, 2011

Following whistleblowing reports from Russian fighter pilot Igor Soulim revealing elite fighter pilots’ salaries being skimmed off by their commanding officers at one of the country’s military pilot training centres, investigations have been carried out. General Viktor Bondarev, who conducted the probe, stated that “everything is confirmed,” namely, that commanders Edouard Kovalski and Sergei Sidorenko skimmed two million roubles from pilots’ and other base personnel bonuses.

Read full article: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/breaking-news/elite-figher-pilots-salaries-skimmed/story-e6freuyi-1226062348118

Copyright: Financial Times, 24th May, 2011

It is reported that a fifth of the military hardware budget in Russia is stolen by corrupt officials and contractors each year, according to Russia’s chief military prosecutor. In an interview Sergei Fridinsky, Russia’s chief military prosecutor, spoke of how funds allocated for military equipment and arms each year were siphoned off. Corruption in the military threatens Russia’s plans to modernise its armed forces. More than Rbs 119,000 bn (US $650bn) is due to be spent on the defence sector by 2020 in the most sweeping reforms since the cold war.

Read full article: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/961668be-8628-11e0-9e2c-00144feabdc0.html#axzz1QlhLbOWQ

Copyright: Azeri-Press Agency (APA), 24th May, 2011

Republic Military Prosecutor’s Office is conducting month-long inspections of the Jalilabad Region Military Commissariat, during which indications of corruption surfaced. The investigations will lead to prosecutions, with military commissars of several regions having already been arrested on prosecution charges.

Read full article: http://www.en.apa.az/news.php?id=147880

Copyright: News.com.au, 13th May, 2011

Former president Hosni Mubarak has been held by the Egyptian authorities on charges of abuse of authority to illegally acquire wealth, after being questioned by the Illicit Gains Authority, a branch of the justice ministry. Mubarak's wife Suzanne is also under investigation. His two sons are currently detained in prison on charges of corruption and violently suppressing the uprisings earlier this year that overthrew their father. Mubarak fell from power on 12 April following a popular revolution against the regime in which more than 846 people were killed during clashes with the security forces.

Read full article: http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/world/egypt-orders-mubarak-detention-in-wealth-probe/story-e6frfkui-1226055223560

Copyright: Copyright: News.com.au, 13th May, 2011

Former president Hosni Mubarak has been held by the Egyptian authorities on charges of abuse of authority to illegally acquire wealth, after being questioned by the Illicit Gains Authority, a branch of the justice ministry. Mubarak’s wife Suzanne is also under investigation. His two sons are currently detained in prison on charges of corruption and violently suppressing the uprisings earlier this year that overthrew their father. Mubarak fell from power on 12 April following a popular revolution against the regime in which more than 846 people were killed during clashes with the security forces.

Read full article: http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/world/egypt-orders-mubarak-detention-in-wealth-probe/story-e6frfkui-1226055223560

Copyright: Wall Street Journal, 11th May, 2011

A retired U.S. Army major pleaded guilty Wednesday to one charge of money-laundering for his role in participating in a ring of corrupt Army contracting officers accused of stealing millions of dollars via rigged defense contracts at Kuwait's Camp Arifjan. Maj. Charles J. Bowie Jr., 45 years old, is the sixth major implicated in a probe known in Pentagon and Justice Department circles as the Cockerham Case, which now has snared at least seven other soldiers ranging in rank from private first class to colonel.

Read full article: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703864204576317593908887096.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

Copyright: CNN, 11th May, 2011

Protestors being brought before Bahraini courts show signs of abuse and torture, human rights groups say. The government has carried out a major assault on protests, which have focused on ending the high corruption, sectarian discrimination, and unemployment in the country. According to CNN, protestors describe the ruling Al-Khalifa family as "running a corrupt government that relies on torture and other harsh measures to clamp down on dissent." 14 defendants were recently tried in a special military court. Many appeared injured and are believed to have been subjected to violent interrogations and torture.

Read full article: http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/meast/05/10/bahrain.activist.abuse

Copyright: Copyright: Wall Street Journal, 11th May, 2011

A retired U.S. Army major pleaded guilty Wednesday to one charge of money-laundering for his role in participating in a ring of corrupt Army contracting officers accused of stealing millions of dollars via rigged defense contracts at Kuwait's Camp Arifjan.
Maj. Charles J. Bowie Jr., 45 years old, is the sixth major implicated in a probe known in Pentagon and Justice Department circles as the Cockerham Case, which now has snared at least seven other soldiers ranging in rank from private first class to colonel.

Read full article: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703864204576317593908887096.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

Copyright: Copyright: CNN, 11th May, 2011

Protestors being brought before Bahraini courts show signs of abuse and torture, human rights groups say. The government has carried out a major assault on protests, which have focused on ending the high corruption, sectarian discrimination, and unemployment in the country. According to CNN, protestors describe the ruling Al-Khalifa family as “running a corrupt government that relies on torture and other harsh measures to clamp down on dissent.” 14 defendants were recently tried in a special military court. Many appeared injured and are believed to have been subjected to violent interrogations and torture.

Read full article: http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/meast/05/10/bahrain.activist.abuse

Copyright: Wall Street Journal, 10th May, 2011

Ecuador's President Rafael Correa may have received as much as $400,000 from Colombian guerrillas and their drug trafficking allies for his 2006 presidential campaign, a U.K. think tank concluded in a report released on May 10th.The International Institute for Strategic Studies based its conclusion on a two-year study of a treasure trove of information found in the computers of the late Raul Reyes, a top leader of Colombia's communist FARC guerrillas. Mr. Reyes was killed when his camp in Ecuador was attacked in a controversial cross border raid by Colombian soldiers in 2008.

Read full article: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703864204576315961958557744.html

Copyright: BBC, 10th May, 2011

As protests and the Assad regime's violent crackdown on the uprisings escalate, this article looks at the individuals surrounding the Syrian president. Corruption and cronyism are rife in the country. Leading members of the Assad regime are family members or are members in the small minority Alawite community. Maher al-Assad is Bashar's youngest brother and head of the Republic Guard; he is strongly anti-reform and is known for excessive use of violence. Bashar al-Assad's brother-in-law, Asef Shawkat, is deputy chief of staff of the armed forces and has held numerous positions within the defence and intelligence communities, including chief of military intelligence. Rami Makhlouf is Syria's strongest businessman and a first cousin of the president. He is a telecommunications mogul with a monopoly on telecommunications; he is also believed to control banks, free trade zones, duty free shops, construction company, an airline, TV channels, and import businesses. The US treasury has accused Makhlouf of manipulating "the judicial system and [using] Syrian intelligence officials to intimidate his business rivals." The close business-security ties drawn by Makhlouf have entrenched a system of corruption in Syria, and have made him a major target of Syrian protestors. Other members of the president's inner circle include Abdul Fatah Qudsiya, head of military intelligence, Ali Mamluk, head of the General Security Directorate, Jamil Hassan, head of Air Force Intelligence, Mohammed Dib Zaitoun, head of the Political Security Directorate, Zuhair Hamad, deputy head of the General Security Directorate, Col Hafez Makhlouf, head of General Security Directorate in Damascus, Mohammed Nasif Kheirbek, deputy vice-president for security affairs, Hisham Ikhtiar, director of the National Security Bureau, Dhu al-Himma Shalish, head of Presidential Security, Ali Habib Mahmoud, minister of defence, Rustum Ghazali, head of Military Intelligence in Damascus Countryside, and Manaf Tlas, Republican Guard commander. This network of nepotism and cronyism is deeply corrupt, and has lead the brutal suppression of protests against it in recent weeks.

Read full article: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-13216195

Copyright: Copyright: Wall Street Journal, 10th May, 2011

Ecuador's President Rafael Correa may have received as much as $400,000 from Colombian guerrillas and their drug trafficking allies for his 2006 presidential campaign, a U.K. think tank concluded in a report released on May 10th.
The International Institute for Strategic Studies based its conclusion on a two-year study of a treasure trove of information found in the computers of the late Raul Reyes, a top leader of Colombia's communist FARC guerrillas. Mr. Reyes was killed when his camp in Ecuador was attacked in a controversial cross border raid by Colombian soldiers in 2008.

Read full article: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703864204576315961958557744.html

Copyright: Copyright: BBC, 10th May, 2011

As protests and the Assad regime’s violent crackdown on the uprisings escalate, this article looks at the individuals surrounding the Syrian president. Corruption and cronyism are rife in the country. Leading members of the Assad regime are family members or are members in the small minority Alawite community. Maher al-Assad is Bashar’s youngest brother and head of the Republic Guard; he is strongly anti-reform and is known for excessive use of violence. Bashar al-Assad’s brother-in-law, Asef Shawkat, is deputy chief of staff of the armed forces and has held numerous positions within the defence and intelligence communities, including chief of military intelligence. Rami Makhlouf is Syria’s strongest businessman and a first cousin of the president. He is a telecommunications mogul with a monopoly on telecommunications; he is also believed to control banks, free trade zones, duty free shops, construction company, an airline, TV channels, and import businesses. The US treasury has accused Makhlouf of manipulating “the judicial system and [using] Syrian intelligence officials to intimidate his business rivals.” The close business-security ties drawn by Makhlouf have entrenched a system of corruption in Syria, and have made him a major target of Syrian protestors. Other members of the president’s inner circle include Abdul Fatah Qudsiya, head of military intelligence, Ali Mamluk, head of the General Security Directorate, Jamil Hassan, head of Air Force Intelligence, Mohammed Dib Zaitoun, head of the Political Security Directorate, Zuhair Hamad, deputy head of the General Security Directorate, Col Hafez Makhlouf, head of General Security Directorate in Damascus, Mohammed Nasif Kheirbek, deputy vice-president for security affairs, Hisham Ikhtiar, director of the National Security Bureau, Dhu al-Himma Shalish, head of Presidential Security, Ali Habib Mahmoud, minister of defence, Rustum Ghazali, head of Military Intelligence in Damascus Countryside, and Manaf Tlas, Republican Guard commander. This network of nepotism and cronyism is deeply corrupt, and has lead the brutal suppression of protests against it in recent weeks.

Read full article: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-13216195

Copyright: BBC, 8th May, 2011

The former defence minister of Venezuela has been sentenced to almost eight years in prison for corruption while he was in office. Raul Baduel was a key Hugo Chavez ally, and played an important role in defence of the president when he was temporarily ousted in a 2002 coup.But after the two fell out in 2007, Mr Baduel was arrested on corruption charges.

Read full article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8669618.stm

Copyright: Copyright: BBC, 8th May, 2011

The former defence minister of Venezuela has been sentenced to almost eight years in prison for corruption while he was in office.
Raul Baduel was a key Hugo Chavez ally, and played an important role in defence of the president when he was temporarily ousted in a 2002 coup.
But after the two fell out in 2007, Mr Baduel was arrested on corruption charges.

Read full article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8669618.stm

Copyright: Hindustan Times, 7th May, 2011

Pune businessman Hasan Ali Khan had funded projects for international arms dealer Adnan Khashoggi and this was reflected in one of his Swiss bank accounts that had been blocked with the comment "Funds from Weapon Sales", stated the 950-page charge sheet filed by the ED before the special court under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. Khan was arrested on March 7 by the ED for allegedly stashing billions of dollars in overseas bank accounts.

Read full article: http://www.hindustantimes.com/Hasan-Ali-funded-projects-for-Khashoggi/Article1-694698.aspx

Copyright: Copyright: Hindustan Times, 7th May, 2011

Pune businessman Hasan Ali Khan had funded projects for international arms dealer Adnan Khashoggi and this was reflected in one of his Swiss bank accounts that had been blocked with the comment “Funds from Weapon Sales”, stated the 950-page charge sheet filed by the ED before the special court under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. Khan was arrested on March 7 by the ED for allegedly stashing billions of dollars in overseas bank accounts.

Read full article: http://www.hindustantimes.com/Hasan-Ali-funded-projects-for-Khashoggi/Article1-694698.aspx

Copyright: Charles Levinson, the Wall Street Journal, 6th May, 2011

An Egyptian court convicted former Egyptian Interior Minister Habib al-Adly for corruption and sentenced him to 12 years in prison. Al-Adly, the leader of Mubarak's immense and fearsome security apparatus, was the first member of the former regime to be convicted. He was found guilty of money laundering and profiteering related to fraudulent land deals, and along with the 12 year sentence was fined 2.5 million USD. He faces six further charges, including for ordering police to fire on protesters, a charge that could carry the death penalty, opening Cairo's prisons to free inmates and incite fear, and hiring former prisoners to act as thugs during the protests. There has been strong pressure from the Egyptian public for the transitional military government to put former officials on trial.

Read full article: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704810504576305254154569690.html

Copyright: Iraq Business News, 6th May, 2011

The Iraq Integrity Committee is currently investigating corruption during the former Defence Ministry's procurement of military equipment from Serbia, member Aliya Nassif confirmed. The contract, worth tens of millions of dollars, was originally investigated during the procurement process; however, action was not taken due to "political forces." The Integrity Commission, the legal advisor to the Minister of Defence, and the Director General of the Ministry of Defence's programmes have now re-opened the file, which contains evidence of financial and administrative corruption. There are believed to be other similar cases which may also be reopened.

Read full article: http://www.iraq-businessnews.com/tag/commission-on-integrity/

Copyright: Iraq Business News, 6th May, 2011

In May Aliya Nassif, a member of Iraq’s Integrity Committee confirmed that the committee is launching an investigation to review a deal by the previous Ministry of Defence for possible financial corruption. The deal in question was a contract with Serbia to buy arms for the Iraqi Army. According to Nassif the contract worth tens of millions of dollars was examined at the time by the Integrity Commission and the parliamentary Security and Defense Commission. Despite corruption being uncovered in the contract action to address it was prevented by ‘political forces’.

Read full article: http://www.iraq-businessnews.com/2011/05/06/iraq-probes-corruption-in-military-deal/

Copyright: Copyright: The Wall Street Journal, 6th May, 2011

An Egyptian court convicted former Egyptian Interior Minister Habib al-Adly for corruption and sentenced him to 12 years in prison. Al-Adly, the leader of Mubarak’s immense and fearsome security apparatus, was the first member of the former regime to be convicted. He was found guilty of money laundering and profiteering related to fraudulent land deals, and along with the 12 year sentence was fined 2.5 million USD. He faces six further charges, including for ordering police to fire on protesters, a charge that could carry the death penalty, opening Cairo’s prisons to free inmates and incite fear, and hiring former prisoners to act as thugs during the protests. There has been strong pressure from the Egyptian public for the transitional military government to put former officials on trial.

Read full article: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704810504576305254154569690.html

Copyright: KHOU News, 5th May, 2011

New figures show 122 current or former U.S. federal agents and employees of the Customs and Border Protection agency have been arrested or indicted for corruption since October of 2004. It is a trend that has both the FBI and key members of Congress concerned.
In addition, 92 of those cases were considered instances of “Mission Compromising Corruption,” in which the employee violated, or facilitated the violation of the laws the agency enforces-- such as those related to the smuggling of drugs or illegal aliens.

Read full article: http://www.khou.com/home/Data-reveals-trend-in-US-Border-Guards-taking-bribes-of-money-and-sex-122549009.html

Copyright: Macon.com, Bouzza ben Bouzza, 4th May, 2011

Former Tunisian president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali will face charges for inciting violence and "plotting against the interior security of the state." Families of youths killed by security forces during January's protest allege that Ben Ali ordered his forces to shoot. The Ben Ali regime was "notoriously corrupt," and maintained strict control over the security services until he was overthrown. The World Bank and the African Development Bank have pledged 100 million UDS in 'urgent budgetary aid' aimed at supporting "reforms to improve governance, transparency, [and] laws of freedom of association," as well as other urgent economic development issues.

Read full article: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-05-12/tunisia-refers-legal-case-against-ben-ali-to-military-court.html

Copyright: Copyright: Bloomberg, 4th May, 2011

Former Tunisian president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali will face charges for inciting violence and “plotting against the interior security of the state.” Families of youths killed by security forces during January’s protest allege that Ben Ali ordered his forces to shoot. The Ben Ali regime was “notoriously corrupt,” and maintained strict control over the security services until he was overthrown. The World Bank and the African Development Bank have pledged 100 million UDS in ‘urgent budgetary aid’ aimed at supporting “reforms to improve governance, transparency, [and] laws of freedom of association,” as well as other urgent economic development issues.

Read full article: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-05-12/tunisia-refers-legal-case-against-ben-ali-to-military-court.html

Copyright: The Straits Times, 18th April, 2011

An Army captain was charged on Monday with five counts of corruption in the form of cash loans totalling $53,100 from a businessman in return for providing confidential information relating to military projects in the Singapore Armed Forces. Phua Poh Sim, 31, is accused of corruptly receiving between $1,700 and $28,000 from Yow Wah alias Richard between May and August 2008.

Read full article: http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_658154.html

Copyright: Online International News Network, 18th April, 2011

The Special Committee of the Public Accounts Committee was informed that defense ministry has decided to penalise former army generals and officers involved in the Rs 4 billion irregularities in the National Logistic Cell (NLC) scandal. There will be a detailed report to hold former army officers accountable over their multi billion rupees corruption in the country's public sector freight transportation company National Logistics Cell (NLC) managed by senior Army officers.

Read full article: http://www.onlinenews.com.pk/details.php?id=177590

Copyright: Copyright: The Straits Times, 18th April, 2011

An Army captain was charged on Monday with five counts of corruption in the form of cash loans totalling $53,100 from a businessman in return for providing confidential information relating to military projects in the Singapore Armed Forces. Phua Poh Sim, 31, is accused of corruptly receiving between $1,700 and $28,000 from Yow Wah alias Richard between May and August 2008.

Read full article: http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_658154.html

Copyright: Copyright: Online International News Network, 18th April, 2011

The Special Committee of the Public Accounts Committee was informed that defense ministry has decided to penalise former army generals and officers involved in the Rs 4 billion irregularities in the National Logistic Cell (NLC) scandal. There will be a detailed report to hold former army officers accountable over their multi billion rupees corruption in the country’s public sector freight transportation company National Logistics Cell (NLC) managed by senior Army officers.

Read full article: http://www.onlinenews.com.pk/details.php?id=177590

Copyright: Copyright: The Telegram, 14th April, 2011

The Greek Parliament has been authorised to investigate the country’s former defence minister following corruption allegations in the purchase of military submarines. Akis Tsochadzopoulos will be investigated for potential bribery – a criminal offense—and money laundering in the 2000 purchse of three Type 214 submarines. Tsochadzopoulos denies any misconduct.

Read full article: http://www.thetelegram.com/Canada---World/Arts/2011-04-28/article-2463018/Greek-parliament-to-investigate-former-defence-minister-over-German-sub-contract/1

Copyright: Copyright: World Sociality Website, 12th April, 2011

The Institute of Contemporary Development, closely allied to President Medvedev, released a report supporting current plans for major reforms of the Russian military. Issued in March 2011, the report promotes plans to minimise corruption within the armed forces, in addition to upgrading military equipment.

Read full article: http://www.wsws.org/articles/2011/apr2011/russ-a13.shtml