Regional Anti-Corruption Initiative (RAI)

KOSOVO BANK LEADER ARRESTED IN CORRUPTION PROBE

Authorities arrested the governor of the Central Bank of Kosovo on Friday after searching his house and office as part of a corruption investigation, the European Union Rule of Law Mission said in statement. A prosecutor authorized the arrest of Hashim Rexhepi after the search, which the statement said was connected with an investigation into allegations of abusing official position or authority, accepting bribes, tax evasion, trading in influence and money laundering. In addition to Rexhepi's home and the bank, police also searched a private company and the homes of three other suspects, the statement said. It did not provide further details about the allegations...

CNN              23/07/2010

ROMANIA FLAGGING IN FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION, SAYS EU

The European Union has lambasted Romania over its flagging efforts to fight corruption, while giving a positive report on the work of Bulgaria’s new government. The EU scolded Romania on several scores including its treatment of its National Integrity Agency (ANI), a Brussels-backed body that monitors politicians’ financial interests, which was emasculated by a constitutional court ruling and a new law passed by parliament last month. “While Bulgaria has embraced reform efforts and achieved important results, Romania has lost momentum with this report showing important shortcomings,” the EU Commission said in its annual report on the Balkan states, which joined the bloc in 2007...

The Irish Times              20/07/2010

EU POLICE RAID KOSOVO TELECOM IN CORRUPTION PROBE

EU and Kosovo police yesterday (16 July) raided four companies suspected of corruption over a mobile phone licence, including Kosovo Telecom, EU rule of law mission EULEX has announced. Nicholas Hawton, the EU police spokesman in Kosovo, said in a press release yesterday that as many as 60 officers took part in eight searches carried out in Pristina and the western Kosovo town of Pec. The searches, which included the private residence of the top official at Kosovo Post and Telecom, Shyqyri Haxha, related to "financial and corruption matters in connection to a telecommunications licence," he said. The EU-led investigation focuses on corruption related to the issuing of a telecoms licence to a privately-owned company. The deal "is suspected to have taken place under fraudulent circumstances," according to EULEX, which has taken up the mantle in enforcing rule of law in Kosovo in the wake of recommendations from the International Crisis Group that help be provided with internal corruption investigations...

EurActiv.com              16/07/2010

BULGARIAN POLICE ARREST ANOTHER 'CORRUPT' CUSTOMS OFFICER AT BORDER CROSSING

As part of an ongoing police operation codenamed "Border", a customs officer from the border crossing point of Lessovo, on the Turkey border, has been arrested for taking bribes, police announced on July 5 2010. According to the private Bulgarian television channel bTV, the latest officer arrested was a woman. Interior Ministry launched the police operation, codenamed "Border", in a bid to quash corrupt police practices on the Kapitan Andreevo border frontier checkpoint with Turkey, Bulgarian Interior Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov announced on June 30 2010. The operation is being conducted by units from the Internal Police department along with the Interior Ministry and the chief directorate for combating organised crime CDCOC...

The Sofia Echo              05/07/2010

ROMANIAN ANTICORRUPTION AGENCY LEFT UNCHANGED

Lawmakers have rejected proposals to make Romania's anti-corruption agency more efficient in fighting graft. The Senate's vote late Wednesday effectively lessened the National Integrity Agency's powers to monitor public officials' wealth. The proposals would have extended the investigation period from one to three years and required politicians' family members to declare state contracts. Agency official Horia Georgescu accused lawmakers Thursday of voting to protect their personal interests, while U.S. Ambassador Mark Gitenstein said the vote weakened the agency...

BusinessWeek             01/07/2010