Corruption law review, new VDC Head appointed

[Imperator Azenquor]

BCNA: Corruption law review, new VCS Head appointed

“The Great People’s Khural began debate on a new Anti Corruption bill today. The bill, proposed by President Anyatevich, would toughen the penalties for political corruption significantly and would increase public oversight of the expenses of members of the Khural. The bill, officially titled the ‘Prevention of Political Corruption and Bribery Act’ was brought to the floor by the governing Social Democratic Party (SDP).

Under the proposed bill, any government official or politician who is found guilty of corruption involving a sum greater than B$500,000 will receive either life in prison without parole, or the death penalty at the discretion of the presiding judge. While the public has generally favored harsher penalties for corrupt politicians, some human rights groups have voiced their opposition to the possible use of the death penalty in corruption cases. Shortly afterwards the Speaker of the Great Khural clarified that the death penalty would be applied only in political corruption cases where the corruption on the part of a government official can be linked directly to the loss of life of an individual or group of individuals.

It is believed that the new bill is the latest attempt by the new SDP led government to crack down on a culture of political corruption in government. The bill, if approved would affect every government official across both local and national levels and would restrict donations to individual officials. Under the proposed legislation, all government officials would be required to publicly declare all finances gained during the course of their terms in office in order to ensure transparency and to prevent bribery and illegal political donations.

Due to the overwhelming SDP majority in the People's Khural, the proposed legislation is widely expected to be approved without major opposition."-Reporter

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"In other news, the Great People's Khural confirmed the appointment of a new Chief Executive of the Vauleo-Buryatian Civil Service (VCS). The Civil Service will be lead by Sir Humphrey Appleby, an unknown mid-level bureaucrat who advanced rapidly through the ranks of the Civil Service. Sir Humphrey takes up his post amid mounting criticism that the Civil Service is the only government branch that has 'developed 1001 different ways to do absolutely nothing'. We will continue to cover this story, and will question the President upon his return from Australia."-Reporter