THE CRESCENT
NEWS FROM PACKILVANIA
22 APRIL 2022
COMMISSION CONCLUDES INVESTIGATION INTO CORRUPTION IN KEMER
JAHASH NUBEEL
RECOMMENDATIONS ON COMBATTING CORRUPTION
ASHAL SHUHAN
MAYOR OF KEMER SENTENCED TO YEARS IN PRISON FOR CORRUPTION
FUKRAM WASAIL
Yesterday (21 April 2022), the Ivandor Commission concluded its investigation into endemic corruption in the local government of the city of Kemer. Named after Chairman Juhal Ivandor, the Commission conducted interviews with and collected written testimony and documents from senior members of the local government of Kemer, government contractors, as well as members of law enforcement.
From their findings, they found that there were significant weaknesses in the financial audit and procurement processes of the city of Kemer that enabled corrupt officials to launder millions of Packilvanian dinars through bribes, nepotism, and improperly awarded contracts. They submitted their report to His Imperial Highness, Prince Luwadeen a-Harim Bedon, the Prime Minister whose office published the recommendations of the report on their website.
Yesterday, the Office of the Prime Minister published the recommendations of the Ivandor Commission on their website. Prime Minister Luwadeen a-Harim Bedon issued a statement vowing to instruct the Kemer Government to enforce these measures as follows:
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Automating manual financial processes
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Implementing multiple levels of approval for procurement
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Adding processes for the appointment of civil servants.
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Adding background checks and mechanisms for reporting issues in procurement
Acting Mayor, the Duke of Obran vowed to implement the measures and work closely with an independent external audit agency to ensure that substantial meaningful reforms are executed. Furthermore, he has already gotten to work terminating the employment of illegally appointed civil servants and government contractors. However, analysts believe he will face challenges in court in proving impropriety and illegality in procurement and employment contracts to get them canceled and subsequently recover lost state funds. Furthermore, in light of his acting mandate, it is unclear whether his successor will continue with these reforms as the Crown has not yet announced who the new mayor will be.
Yesterday, Prince Kujil a-Sajahal Bedon, Mayor of Kemer was found guilty of several counts of racketeering, cronyism, and money laundering by the Hadul Magistrate Court and sentenced to 6 years in prison. Although he was legally protected by Imperial Immunity (a legal principle in Packilvania that grants immunity to Packilvanian Princes), the National Procuratorial Office successfully applied to His Imperial Highness, Prince Thumim a-Namdun Bedon to waive Imperial Immunity.
This allowed the admission of damning evidence and witness testimony linking Prince Kujil to the illegal appointment of family members and close friends to senior roles in the Kemer government as well as illegally and improperly awarding contracts to companies owned by associates outside of established regulatory processes. Prince Kujil is expected to appeal the case at the Kemer High Court.
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