From Mongolia: Aggressively Combating Corruption
In late 2006, the Mongolian Anti-corruption Agency (ACA) was created to actively combat corruption, although its authority has been blocked by legal technicalities. Last month, these technicalities disappeared when the Criminal Procedures Code was amended and ratified by Parliament, granting ACA the opportunity to fulfill its mandate to investigate, gather intelligence, and educate the public on anti-corruption activities.
“Although the Agency could not investigate corruption-related complaints or crimes until the amendments were ratified, the ACA used the time wisely to recruit and train staff,” explained ACA Deputy Commissioner Sunduisuren. As of mid-August, 78 staff had been hired, including 27 investigators who currently comprise the Investigations Department. With Asia Foundation support, ACA investigative staff were trained by foreign experts with lengthy senior-level experience in regional anti-corruption bodies, such as Hong Kong’s Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC).
Corruption is a widespread issue in Mongolia. According to the Mongolian Asset and Income disclosure forms, the average net worth of 228 state and government high position authorities was 765.2 million MNT ($640,000). In 2006 one Member of Parliament reported net worth of 21.71 billion MNT ($18.5 million).
The ACA’s Complaint Mechanism is an anonymous hotline for citizens to identify corruption activities, and is the principal tool to lead ACA investigators to the crimes. The Foundation has developed a procedures manual that will be adopted for all hotline operators. Such training ensures that calls are handled professionally, and that complaints are referred efficiently and expeditiously for investigation.
With the Criminal Procedures Code Amendment ratified, and the dramatic increase in the ACA’s annual budget – now at USD 1.65 million - the Agency is now poised to implement its mandate and actively combat corruption with the help of all Mongolian citizens.
