# The week in corruption: 7 stories making the news URL: https://www.transparency.org/en/news/the-week-in-corruption-7-stories-making-the-news-16-aug-2016 Type: News Published: 2016-08-19 Updated: 2019-11-19 --- 19 August 2016 **[The march of democracy slows](http://www.economist.com/news/middle-east-and-africa/21705355-threats-democratic-rule-africa-are-growing-time-and-demography-are)** *The Economist* “Threats to democratic rule in Africa are growing, but time and demography are against the autocrats." **[Exclusive: Some shell companies sidestep new UK transparency rules](http://uk.reuters.com/article/us-britain-shellcompanies-exclusive-idUKKCN10P09S)** *Reuters* “Some UK shell companies under offshore control may be skirting new rules which were designed to clamp down on corruption and tax evasion by forcing businesses to reveal their true owners, a Reuters analysis of corporate filings shows." **[Trump aide should face Ukraine graft probe, lawmaker says](http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2016-08-19/ukraine-anti-graft-team-should-question-manafort-lawmaker-says)** *Bloomberg* “Paul Manafort, the campaign chairman for U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, should be questioned by Ukrainian investigators over almost \[US\]$13 million he allegedly received from a secret account for working on behalf of toppled President Viktor Yanukovych, a lawmaker said." **[New online income declaration system flops in Ukraine](http://www.reuters.com/article/ukraine-crisis-corruption-declaration-idUSL8N1AW2L4)** *Reuters* “Ukrainian efforts to stamp out tax evasion and corruption among public officials in line with commitments to the IMF hit a setback on Monday when a new online income declaration system flopped at launch." > [\#Ukraine](https://twitter.com/hashtag/Ukraine?src=hash)'s new anti-corruption tool seriously flawed. Allows “illegal lies” from officials: [pic.twitter.com/Y0BIUuSUCI](https://t.co/Y0BIUuSUCI) > > — Transparency Int'l (@anticorruption) [15 August 2016](https://twitter.com/anticorruption/status/765202650182868992) **[Illegal mines and local mafia take shine off Latin American gold](https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2016/aug/16/illegal-mines-local-mafia-take-shine-off-latin-american-gold-peru?CMP=twt_a-global-development_b-gdndevelopment)** *The Guardian* “Gold is Peru’s primary export, worth an estimated \[US\]$3bn (£2.3bn), yet violence, corruption, laundering and exploitation – including debt bondage, human trafficking and child labour – within the industry are rife across Latin America’s illegal gold mines." **[Amid corruption scandal, Malaysia’s PM faces challenge from predecessor](http://www.voanews.com/a/amid-corruption-scandal-malaysian-pm-faces-challenge-from-predecessor/3467305.html)** *VOA* “Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak is facing a challenge from one of the country's former leaders, as his administration tries to fend off allegations of corruption over misusing a multi-billion dollar development fund." **[Pakistan army's housing ventures face corruption investigation](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/aug/19/pakistan-army-housing-ventures-corruption-investigation)** *The Guardian* “Brothers of ex-army chief linked to two of three DHA developments being investigated by National Accountability Bureau." > The REAL robbery happened when medals were allegedly stolen due to [\#corruption](https://twitter.com/hashtag/corruption?src=hash). [\#LochteGate](https://twitter.com/hashtag/LochteGate?src=hash) [\#Conlan](https://twitter.com/hashtag/Conlan?src=hash) [\#Rio2016](https://twitter.com/hashtag/Rio2016?src=hash) > > — Transparency Int'l (@anticorruption) [August 19, 2016](https://twitter.com/anticorruption/status/766648480710397952) **Rio Olympics spotlight** **[Europe's top Olympic official arrested in Rio over tickets sales](http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-37107450)** *BBC* “Police in Brazil have arrested the head of the European Olympic Committees, Irishman Patrick Hickey, in Rio over illegal Olympic ticket sales." **[Russia stripped of women’s 4x100m relay gold medal from Beijing Olympics](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/aug/16/russia-stripped-of-2008-olympics-gold-medal-drugs)** *Associated Press* “The International Olympic Committee has stripped Russia of its gold medal in the women’s 4x100m from the 2008 Beijing Olympics after one of the runners tested positive in a re-analysis of her doping samples." **[Boxing judges and refs removed after suspicious results](http://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/18/sports/olympics/boxing-referees-and-judges-removed-after-a-review.html?_r=0)** *The New York Times* “Several referees and judges have been removed from the Olympic boxing competition after officials reviewed their decisions, fueling suspicion of dubious results in some matches at the Rio Games. " **[Brazil's judiciary defies the IOC](http://www.dw.com/en/brazils-judiciary-defies-the-ioc/a-19478926)** *Deutsche Welle* “No public funds. Brazil's judiciary has taken action. After numerous corruption scandals, prosecutors have now set their sights on the 2016 Olympic Organizing Committee." > Head of European [\#Olympic](https://twitter.com/hashtag/Olympic?src=hash) Committees arrested in [\#Brazil](https://twitter.com/hashtag/Brazil?src=hash) over illegal ticket sales! [\#Rio2016](https://twitter.com/hashtag/Rio2016?src=hash) > > — Transparency Int'l (@anticorruption) [17 August 2016](https://twitter.com/anticorruption/status/765898170547183616) *[Sign up for our free Daily Corruption News](/getinvolved/stayinformed/)* 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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