A South Korean footballer has been detained by Chinese police in relation to a bribery case, Korean media report. Son Jun-Ho, 31, who plays in the national side and in the Chinese Super League, was detained at a Shanghai airport on Friday, outlets said. Neither South Korean or Chinese officials have commented on the case. But Seoul’s diplomats are seeking contact with Mr Son and further details on his case, said Yonhap News Agency citing sources. South Korean diplomats will meet with Mr Son “to figure out exactly what kind of charges” he is being investigated for, Yonhap reported. He … Continue reading South Korean footballer Son Jun-ho detained in China

Divorce court papers allege that the daughter of Zimbabwe’s ex-President Robert Mugabe owned 25 residential properties, including a Dubai mansion, worth a total of around $80m. Bona Mugabe filed for divorce from former pilot Simba Mutsahuni Chikore in March. Mr Chikore wants to split their assets, which also include 21 farms, he says. A source close to the Mugabe familysaid that the former president had nothing in his name when he died, although he received £10m from the state as part of his pension. The source also questioned whether Bona Mugabe owned all the assets listed by her former partner. … Continue reading Several mansions and properties linked to Robert Mugabe’s daughter court papers reveals

Ex-Fugees musician Prakazrel “Pras” Michel has been found guilty of 10 counts, including corruption, stemming from allegations he used money to peddle influence in the US. US prosecutors said Michel had received more than $100m from Malaysian billionaire Jho Low that was used in two efforts to influence US politics. The self-identifying “celebrity surrogate” was also convicted of lobbying on behalf of China’s government. The rapper now faces years in prison. Michel, 50, was convicted in a Washington DC court of campaign finance violations, acting as an unregistered foreign agent, witness tampering and lying to banks. His lawyer, David Kenner, … Continue reading American music star found guilty of illegal lobbying

A U.S. appeals court panel on Wednesday denied an appeal by former Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo Manrique to stop his extradition to face charges he accepted millions of dollars in bribes as part of a mammoth corruption scandal in which four of Peru’s ex-presidents have been implicated. Toledo, 77, is accused of taking $20 million in bribes from Odebrecht, a giant Brazilian construction company that has admitted to U.S. authorities that it bribed officials to win contracts throughout Latin America for decades. He had sought a stay on his extradition pending a legal challenge to the U.S. State Department’s decision … Continue reading Peru ex-leader Alejandro Toledo to be extradited from US over bribe allegations

A South African accountant who was investigating high-level corruption cases has been shot dead along with his son. Cloete Murray, 50, was the liquidator for Bosasa, a company implicated in numerous government contract scandals. He also worked as a liquidator for firms linked to the wealthy Gupta brothers, who deny bribery accusations. Police will see if there is a link between Mr Murray’s murder and these corruption investigations. Mr Murray was shot by unknown gunmen while driving in Johannesburg with his 28-year-old son Thomas, a legal adviser, on Saturday. His son died at the scene while Mr Murray was taken … Continue reading South African corruption investigator mysteriously shot dead

India’s federal police have arrested the deputy chief minister of Delhi, Manish Sisodia, for alleged corruption. The arrest came after hours of questioning in connection with alleged irregularities related to a liquor policy in the city. The policy, which saw new alcohol shops opened, was dropped after police began a probe. Mr Sisodia and his Aam Aadmi Party deny the allegations, accusing the governing BJP of playing “dirty politics”. Questions of corruption are a sensitive matter for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which emerged more than 10 years ago from a major movement against corruption. It is trying to establish … Continue reading New Delhi deputy chief minister arrested over corruption allegations

Ukraine has launched a fresh wave of anti-corruption raids on high-profile figures, including one of the country’s richest men, Ihor Kolomoisky. The home of former interior minister Arsen Avakov was also searched, as part of the apparent purge. Ukraine has launched an anti-corruption drive and officials said the leaders of the customs service had been fired. President Volodymr Zelensky said raids were necessary to ensure “people do not abuse power”. Speaking on Wednesday President Zelensky said: “Unfortunately, in some spheres, the only way to guarantee legitimacy is to change leaders along with institutional changes implementation.” Ukraine has come under increasing … Continue reading Ukraine billionaire Ihor Kolomoisky targeted in new anti-corruption swoop

An alleged leader of a criminal network involved in an EU corruption scandal has agreed to reveal which countries were involved and how it operated. A lawyer for Pier Antonio Panzeri said his client had agreed to “tell all” after reaching a deal with prosecutors. The former member of the European Parliament is one of four suspects being held in Belgium. They are suspected of accepting bribes from Qatar and Morocco in return for influencing the Parliament in Brussels. Qatar has strenuously denied that it tried to gain influence through gifts and money while Morocco has also strongly rejected allegations … Continue reading Italian Pier Antonio Panzeri held in EU-Qatargate bribery probe agrees to tell all

The man known as the architect of the notorious US college admissions scandal has been sentenced to three and a half years in prison. William “Rick” Singer funnelled money to university coaches from wealthy parents to secure the admission of their children to elite colleges. More than 50 people have been convicted for their role in the scandal. Among those convicted are actors Lori Loughlin and Felicity Huffman, who were clients of Singer. Singer’s sentence, delivered on Wednesday, marks the longest of any parent, coach or others who were convicted in the scandal. US District Judge Rya W. Zobel also … Continue reading Mastermind of US college admissions scandal William Singer will go to jail

A woman who was the nurse of the late Venezuelan president, Hugo Chávez, before he named her Venezuela’s national treasurer in 2011, has been found guilty of money laundering. Claudia Díaz, 49, is the latest former high-ranking Venezuelan official to be convicted of corruption in the US. Her predecessor as treasurer, Alejandro Andrade, was a star witness in her trial. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison but released earlier this year after his sentence was reduced for co-operating with the US Justice Department. Andrade was one of President Chávez’s bodyguards before being named head of Venezuela’s national treasury, … Continue reading Nurse of former Venezuela leader Hugo Chávez guilty of money laundering

Belgian investigators searched offices at the European Parliament in Brussels on Monday, in a probe into alleged bribes from World Cup host Qatar. It was the 20th search carried out in Belgium since Friday and the parliament president, Roberta Metsola, warned MEPs that “democracy is under attack”. Belgian police have arrested four people, among them European Parliament Vice-President Eva Kaili, a Greek MEP. Qatar has denied any wrongdoing. MEPs will debate the scandal on Tuesday. Belgian prosecutors said cash worth about €600,000 was found at the home of one suspect, €150,000 at the flat of an MEP and several hundred … Continue reading Update: European Parliament offices searched amid corruption scandal

Four people have been charged in an investigation into suspected bribery at the European Parliament by a Gulf state – reportedly Qatar. Greek MEP and European Parliament Vice President Eva Kaili was among those previously arrested in the case. Prosecutors suspect the Gulf state tried to influence parliament decisions with donations of money or gifts. Local media have reported that the accused country is Qatar, which the Qatari government has denied. Watchdogs and opposition MEPs have said it could be one of the biggest corruption scandals the European Parliament has ever seen. Ms Kaili has been suspended from her duties … Continue reading Four suspects charged in probe into European Parliament bribery by Gulf state