ACCS commemorates its first International Anti-Corruption Day ‘Prosecution will happen’ |11 December 2017

Ms De Silva addressing the audience

Some of the corruption complaints received by the Anti-Corruption Commission Seychelles (ACCS) will soon to be brought to the Attorney General’s office by the ACCS investigation unit, as per the Anti-Corruption Act 2016.

The ACCS has received 58 complaints to date since its establishment in 2016.

This was announced in a symposium organised on Saturday at the Palais de Justice to commemorate the United Nations (UN) International Anti-Corruption Day, celebrated every December 9.

In attendance were Vice-President Vincent Meriton; chief executive of ACCS, May De Silva; chairman of the commission, Justice Duncan Gaswaga; Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Mathilda Towmey; Leader of Government Business in the National Assembly Charles De Commarmond; members of the ACCS; representative from the office of the Attorney General and other interested parties.

ACCS revealed that out of the 58 complaints lodged, 30 are at investigation stages, 14 are under assessment, five have been closed, three referred to the relevant authorities and six are pending.

According to their infographics, government agencies have been the recipient of the majority of the complaints with a total of 33 complaints lodged against them -- a percentage of 55% of total complaints. This is followed by the private sector (16 complaints), legal sector (5), sporting organisations (3) and the parastatal (2).

The majority of reported complaints relate to abuse of power and act of bribery, and issues related to property and construction tenders.

In her opening remarks Ms De Silva stated that Seychellois are now empowered and are quickly realising that there is a new drive towards good governance currently in play in the country.

“Today all government ministries, departments and agencies are well positioned and have all the tools necessary to prevent corruption at the highest and lowest level to bring efficiency in administration and financial management,” she said.

To move forward, she continued, the society must combat all forms of corruption -- cultural or otherwise -- and inculcate these values in the future generation.

“Prosecution will happen,” Ms De Silva stressed while referring to some of the corruption cases soon to be brought to the Attorney General’s office by the ACCS investigation unit, as per the Anti-Corruption Act 2016.

ACCS also took the opportunity to reveal the preliminary results of Seychelles’ first ever anti-corruption survey.

Denis Joubert, the prevention and education manager at ACCS, noted that the survey creates a benchmark on public perception on the state of corruption in the country.

It showed that 86% of responders knew of the existence of the ACCS however the preliminary results revealed a lack of understanding on its role and mandate.

In addition another large majority, 82.8%, stated that there is a high level of corruption in the country.

Mr Joubert said his department will soon be assisted by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in order to conduct a more thorough, comprehensive and in-depth survey on corruption.

Meanwhile the prevention and education unit has already kickstarted its anti-corruption campaign with sessions conducted at La Digue school, Praslin secondary school and Anse Royale secondary school.

“Aside from the general public, our prevention programme particularly targets youths in schools and governmental entities,” he said.

The unit has identified ways in which anti-corruption education can be inserted into school curriculums and plans on meeting with the curriculum department of the Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development in January 2018 to hatch out the details.

The symposium concluded with a video presentation and presentation of certificates to schools and students who took part in the sessions.