Three-Pronged Strategy

The Anti-Corruption Commission(ACC) adopts the almost universal paradigm of successful enforcement of remedial action against all corrupt acts perpetrated, amend loop holes that facilitate corruption and improve system controls and inculcate the highest standards of national integrity through education thus creating a national consciousness that is intolerant to corruption. The three-pronged strategy can be classified into;

Objective 1: To Strengthen the Computer Forensic Investigations.

The need to conduct computer forensic investigations as part of a wider investigation into corruption complaints have increased over the past few years and has become crucial to the successful completion of the investigation.

 

Objective 2: To use Special Task Force (STF) for rapid investigation of high priority corruption complaints.

The STF provides ACC with the means to respond quickly to corruption complaints that requires rapid action to acquire and preserve criminal evidence.

 

Objective 3: To Strengthen the Capacity of ACC’s Staff through Human Resource Development Programmes.

The ACC staff requires continuous capacity building programmes in professional studies as well as specialized anti-corruption studies and training. The Organisational Capability to be contained, fortified and strengthened by actively pursuing Knowledge Management System (KMS) with continuous in-house training and courses conducted.

 

Objective 6: High Reward for Whistleblowers.

Acknowledging that corruption incurs huge losses to public institution’s revenues and creates uneconomic states expenses, provisions needs to be made for adequate monetary reward for whistleblowers.  

 

Objective 7: To Strengthen a Witness Protection Programme for Whistleblowers.

A conducive environment, strengthened by legislation, is mandatory for the public to come forward with information of corruption without any fear of retaliatory action or any such repercussions.

 

Objective 8: To Review Laws and Regulations for Effectiveness in Combating Corruption.

The increasing complexity of corruption crimes requires criminalizing new offenses and ensuring laws are adequate in investigating and combating corruption. The ACC would have to ensure that the prevailing laws makes corruption crimes high risk. 

 
Objective 9: To Recruit Informers in Reporting Corruption.

The elusive nature of corruption requires that proactive stance would have to be taken by the ACC and that informers in certain instances may be the only reliable source of information for apprehending corruption culprits with the necessary evidences.

 

Objective 10: To Strengthen the Covert Surveillance.

The covert surveillance of those suspected of corruption is a successful and an effective investigative tool towards gaining evidence and conviction of criminals. 

 

PREVENTION

The prevention of corruption is of equal importance as enforcement if the nation is to successfully combat against corruption.

Objective 1: To Strengthen the Continuous Review of Practices and Procedures.

This proactive stance is aimed at amending any loop holes within the work procedures that facilitate acts of corruption. In addition to identifying the corruption prone areas, ACC needs to monitor the full implementation of the recommended remedial action and offer full support to the organization scrutinized.

 

Objective 2: To Strengthen the Assessment of Anti-Corruption Initiatives introduced at various Government Institutions.

The institutional integrity of various government organizations based on anti-corruption initiatives introduced and inherent control systems in place would enable a comparative ranking in efforts made to combat corruption. The ACC needs to ensure lower ranked organizations are given adequate impetus to take corrective actions and help to implement the required changes.

 

Objective 3: To Strengthen the Coordination of Agencies in the Governance Sector in Combating Corruption.

The agencies responsible for strengthening the national governance needs continuous consultations and coordination in ensuring that anti-corruption measures are formulated and executed across the government. An Interagency Committee on Corruption (ICC) comprising governance sector agencies needs regular meeting discussions to share knowledge and information relating to corruption.

 

Objective 4: To Strengthen the Code of Conduct for the Public Sector Employees.

The ACC need to continuously review the public sector employees Code of Conduct to ensure it is instills the proper integrity in performing various public duties and provisions have been made for adequate remedial action for offending employees.  

 

Objective 5: To Establish and Promote Best Practices for Various Industries in the Public and Private Sector.

The nature of work and procedural difference between various industries requires distinct and specific industrial corruption preventive measures. A comprehensive and codified best practice for a specific industry would enable those organizations within that industry to follow such practices and ensure a corruption free environment. In pursuance of this objective, the ACC needs to provide Advisory Services (AS) to requests on how to take corruption preventive measures.

 

Objective 6: To Strengthen the Ethical Behaviour of New Government Employees by Conducting Special Lectures.

The ACC in conjunction with the civil service needs to convey the national stance on corruption and instill integrity towards performance of public duties. This message is to be conveyed through specially prepared guides, publicity materials and special lectures.

 

Objective 7: To Strengthen the Transparency in the Disclosure of Assets of Prominent Public Employees.

The increased transparency of the public employees assets and holdings acts as deterrent for the employees and a useful tool for the wider community to act vigilant on any improper conduct by any person holding public trust and responsibilities. The ACC would have to ensure that these information are relevant and reliable and conduct continuous audits to confirm the veracity of the declarations.

 

Objective 8: To Establish Integrity Awards noted for Exemplary Work towards Combating Corruption and Promotion of Ethical Behaviour.

The Integrity Awards would reinforce those works done by individuals and organizations in combating corruption and enhancing the proper ethical behaviour. The Integrity Award would gain the commitment of the stakeholders and help realize the national integrity plans.

 

PUBLIC AWARENESS

The public support is essential in the fight against corruption. The ACC needs to educate the general public on the debilitating effects of corruption, the preventive measures to take against corruption and become an active force in the fight against corruption.

 

Objective 1: To Conduct Public Awareness Educational Programmes.

A continuous awareness educational programmes involving seminars, workshops and community meetings needs to be conducted to educate the general public. These programmes would require ACC to be face-to-face with the general public inspire confidence and gain first hand knowledge of the struggles made against corruption.

 

Objective 2: To Publicise Anti-Corruption Messages in the Mass Media.

A Specially Tasked Units (SPU) of the ACC is to create and publicise the anti-corruption messages through the mass media. These anti-corruption messages needs to reach out to all the diverse groups of the public located in the remotest parts of the country.

 

Objective 3: To Establish and Coordinate work with the Civil Society in Combating Corruption.

The Civil Society and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO’s) are an indispensable partner in the fight against corruption. Multinational Institutions such as the Transparency International with numerous countries experiences would provide useful assistance in the wider dissemination of anti-corruption messages among the public.

 

Objective 4: To Establish a National Curriculum for Providing Information on Corruption and Anti-Corruption Measures.

The National Curriculum aimed for secondary and tertiary educational students would enhance the knowledge of the ill effects of corruption and create intolerance towards corruption.

 

Objective 5: To Hold National Anti-Corruption Contests, Discussions and Debates.

The ACC can organize, facilitate or subsidise nation wide contests or contests held within educational institutions to enhance understanding of corruption issues and enlist public as well as student support in the fight against corruption.

 

Objective 6: To Provide On-line Education on Anti-Corruption and Enhancing Integrity.

The ACC is to develop and make continuous improvements on providing on-line education on anti-corruption and enhancing integrity. The specially tailored educational courses to take various multi-media formats as computer generated graphics, animations and in-house produced videos. A significant effort is to be placed on continuous upgrades to increase course’s appeal to all age groups, civil officials, general public and students.

 

Objective 7: To Design, Develop, Publish and Distribute Educational Materials on Anti-Corruption.

The educational materials is to include but not limited to Educational Manuals to be used by educational institutions, Anti-Corruption Measures Guides for use by private and public sector organizations and General Information on Anti-Corruption for use by the various development community councils at island, atoll and state levels.

 

Objective 8: To Organise Special Occasions such as the International Anti-Corruption Day by Conducting Publicity Campaigns to create Public Awareness on Corruption.

The ACC is to be the primary agency to conduct publicity campaigns ranging from national news broadcasts and supplements to marathons, designed for the general public to take an active role in been more aware of corruption and combating it.