Preventive Measures

[Zahid-Ikram]

Various preventive measures are in place to reduce opportunities for
corruption particularly in the public service.


Review of Work Methods
Cumbersome work methods and procedures are improved upon to avoid
delays in the granting of permits and licences and to prevent corrupt
public officers from obtaining bribes from members of the public to
expedite their approval.


Declaration of Non-Indebtedness
Every public officer is required to declare once a year that he is
free from pecuniary embarrassment. An indebted public officer could
easily place himself under obligation and be exploited. He is also
more likely to succumb to corruption.


Declaration of Assets and Investments
Every public officer is required to declare, when he is first
appointed and subsequently annually, his properties and investments in
companies, including those of his spouse and dependent children. If
the officer owns more than one property that is not in keeping with
his salary earnings, he could be queried on how he could have the
means to purchase them. If he owns some shares in private companies,
he could be asked to divest ownership to prevent a conflict of
interest.


Non-Acceptance of Gifts
Public officers are not permitted to receive any present in money or
in kind from people having official dealings with them. They are also
not permitted to accept any entertainment that will place them under
any real or apparent obligation. If a person with whom he has official
dealings presents him with any gift, he has to reject it. Where it is
not practical to do so (such as a souvenir from a visiting dignitary),
the officer can accept the gift and surrender it to his head of
department. The officer, however, can retain the gift if he pays for
it at the value assessed by the Accountant-General.