Where disregarding the law is normal rather than an aberration, citizens are more likely to see paying a bribe as in their best interest and where obeying the law is the norm and disobeying it constitutes deviant behaviour, citizens are more likely to reject bribery, is one of the foundations for understanding the phenomenon, according to the Americas Barometer Insights in one of its latest papers titled, “tolerance of bribery and violation of the law”.
A hacker in Brazil has published sensitive personal data of politicians convicted during a major corruption trial known as the Mensalao. Jose Genoino, Jose Dirceu and Delubio Soares have had address, phone numbers, emails and other details exposed.
Argentine former Economy Minister Felisa Miceli was sentenced to 4 years in prison after being found guilty of hiding and destroying evidence after a bag full of cash was found in her office in 2007; an incident which ended with her resigning from office.
Brazil’s Attorney General said the country’s judiciary will investigate allegations that former President Lula da Silva took part in the cash-for-votes scheme that toppled several of his closest aides.
Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff currently on an official visit to France described as ‘regrettable’ the accusations against her predecessor Lula da Silva published in the Sao Paulo media and underlined her respect and admiration for the leader.
Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff moved quickly and with no consideration for political allies ordered the dismissal on Saturday of all government officials allegedly involved in a bribery ring, including the country's deputy attorney general.
China will ban executives from state-owned banks and financial companies from spending extravagantly on cars and houses, according to the state news agency Xinhua. The 12 regulations, issued jointly by the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Supervision and the National Audit Office, come after Communist Party chief Xi Jinping warned that the party risks major unrest and the collapse of its rule if corruption is allowed to run wild in China.
The chief of staff to former President Lula da Silva, and fellow founder of Brazil's ruling Workers' Party, was sentenced to over 10 years in prison for running a congressional vote buying scheme almost a decade ago.
Brazil's Supreme Court convicted three top aides of former president Lula da Silva of graft related to a vote-buying scheme in Congress. Lula's ex-chief of staff Jose Dirceu was found guilty by six of the 10 judges in connection with the scheme that ran from 2002 to 2005 during the popular president's first term, a court spokesman said.
The so called “trail of the century” in Brazil has already condemned 22 of the 37 culprits and on Wednesday is expected to peak when three former leaders of the ruling Workers’ Party are formally accused of having setup a network of bribes to ensure a majority in congress.