# The week in corruption: 6 stories making the news URL: https://www.transparency.org/en/news/the-week-in-corruption-6-stories-making-the-news-8-july-2016 Type: News Published: 2016-07-08 Updated: 2019-11-19 --- 08 July 2016 **1. Iraq: [How corruption helped cause one of Baghdad’s deadliest attacks](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2016/07/04/just-a-toy-after-massacre-iraqis-turn-their-rage-on-fake-bomb-detectors/)** *The Washington Post* After more than 200 people were killed in a devastating Islamic State bomb attack in the Iraqi capital, Iraqis turned their anger toward a symbol of government corruption and the state’s failure to protect them: fake bomb detectors. **2. Spain: [Lionel Messi handed 21-month tax fraud sentence but is unlikely to serve time](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/jul/06/lionel-messi-barcelona-prison-21-months-tax-fraud)** *The Guardian* Lionel Messi and his father Jorge have been sentenced to 21 months in prison for tax fraud, but the Barcelona forward is not expected to spend any time behind bars. > How many schools weren’t built because “I was playing football. I knew nothing” \[[\#Messi](https://twitter.com/hashtag/Messi?src=hash)’s excuse for tax fraud\]? > > — Transparency Int'l (@anticorruption) [July 6, 2016](https://twitter.com/anticorruption/status/750739235490193409) **3. China: [China’s devastating floods can be traced back to corruption and overbuilding](http://qz.com/725468/chinas-devastating-floods-can-be-traced-back-to-corruption-and-overbuilding/)** *Quartz* China is reeling under the country’s most devastating floods in over a decade. Weeklong flooding has killed more than 180 people, affected 32 million people across 26 provinces on the mainland, and led to losses of 50 billion yuan (about $7 billion). **4. Brazil: [Eduardo Cunha, chief critic of Brazil's Dilma Rouseff, resigns](http://edition.cnn.com/2016/07/07/world/brazil-eduardo-cunha-resigns-dilma-rousseff/)** *CNN* He has been accused of benefiting from a massive bribery scheme involving the state-run oil company Petrobras. The corruption investigation has already brought down some of the country's top political and business leaders. **5. Kenya: [Three police officers linked to lawyer Willie Kimani's killing detained pending probe](http://www.nation.co.ke/news/Officers-linked-to-lawyer-killing-detained/-/1056/3279136/-/bfh7az/-/index.html)** *The Daily Nation* Three police officers arrested over killing of lawyer Willie Kimani, his client and taxi driver will be detained for 14 days pending investigations. > Kenyans take to the street today to [\#StopExtrajudicialKillings](https://twitter.com/hashtag/StopExtrajudicialKillings?src=hash) - no more police impunity for killings! [\#WillieKimani](https://twitter.com/hashtag/WillieKimani?src=hash) [pic.twitter.com/9qS27JlkxP](https://t.co/9qS27JlkxP) > > — Transparency Int'l (@anticorruption) [July 4, 2016](https://twitter.com/anticorruption/status/749914509016522752) **6. US: [New SEC anti-corruption rules make it harder for oil companies to bribe foreign countries](http://www.forbes.com/sites/doliaestevez/2016/07/05/new-sec-anti-corruption-rules-make-it-harder-for-oil-companies-to-bribe-foreign-countries/#1256317456cd)** *Forbes* The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued landmark transparency rules on June 27 requiring oil, gas and mining companies listed on U.S. stock exchanges to disclose all payments they make to the U.S. and foreign governments. **Transparency International Anti-Corruption Award 2016** What does it take to be an Anti-Corruption Hero? Courage? Passion? Fearlessness? We're now accepting nominations for our 2016 Anti-Corruption Award! [Nominate today](http://www.transparency.org/getinvolved/anticorruptionaward) For any press inquiries please contact ### You might also like... ## [Anti-corruption gaps are leaving democracy in Europe exposed](https://www.transparency.org/en/news/anti-corruption-gaps-leaving-democracy-europe-exposed) News • 15 September 2026 Too many European countries are failing to effectively implement and enforce their anti-corruption laws, while several are rapidly backsliding. ## [COP Talks: Formal Delegations, Informal Access](https://www.transparency.org/en/news/cop30-formal-delegations-informal-access) News • 14 September 2026 Our analysis of EU delegations found 63 fossil fuel-linked representatives accredited through nine EU Member States at COP30, raising concerns over transparency and influence in… ## [Transparency International 2025: while corruption spreads, here's proof change is possible](https://www.transparency.org/en/news/transparency-international-2025-while-corruption-spreads-heres-proof-change-is-possible) News • 17 July 2026 Corruption still involves envelopes of cash under tables in many countries. 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