October 26, 2019
The scope of corruption goes beyond the act itself. Abuse of power or authority can occur not only in the public sector, but also in private businesses, and it can involve a small bribe or state-owned funds or property.
Abuse of power, in the form of “malfeasance in office” or “official misconduct”, is the commission of an unlawful act, done in an official capacity, which affects the performance of official duties.
The latest amended version of the Anti-Corruption Law was enacted on 21 June, 2018, and according to the law, corruption no longer involves just bribery. The law now defines corruption as any action which breaks existing laws, rules, and regulations, and results in loss of money and damage to property owned by the State.
The Anti-Corruption Commission has declared that it is committed to fighting various forms of abuse and misuse of power or authority, in the course of its work, which have resulted in loss of public funds and damage to property, values, and development of the State. Their effects can be damaging to morale and to working relationships.
We must keep in mind that our democracy is still young and corruption can undermine democratic institutions, and weak institutions are less effective in controlling corruption.
A healthy democracy is linked with a successful end to corruption. Corruption is much more likely to flourish where democratic foundations are weak.
We need to do more to strengthen checks and balances and protect citizens’ rights.
To cultivate a strong political will to rid our society of this impunity, we all must understand the difference between private and public interest.
If someone abuses his or her power or authority or uses public funds or state-owned property for personal gain, he or she will be punished, and all such acts can be considered corruption whether the act of bribery is exposed as such or not. How successfully the Anti-Corruption Commission fights corruption with the use of legal weapons will depend on whether it can take effective action against those involved.
So far, the Anti-Corruption Commission has brought 172 cases to court.
Taking lessons from the different cases of corruption, civil servants at different levels can promote their values by themselves and democratic values as well, and this can help establish a society free from corruption for our future generations.
