Bhutan - Corruption
The World Bank Control of Corruption index ranges from -2.5 (worst) to +2.5 (best). This indexranged from -1.68 to +0.66 in the countries covered by this analysis between 2004 and 2012. Among the worst in 2004 were Burma/Myanmar (-1.68), Iraq (- 1.56) and Haiti (-1.52) and the best were Bhutan (+0.62), Jordan (+0.34), and Tunisia (+0.24).
The law provides criminal penalties for corruption by officials, and the government generally implemented these laws effectively. There were isolated reports of government corruption during the year. The 2011 Anti-Corruption Act, which is based on the UN Convention against Corruption, expands the mandate of the ACC to cover the private sector and enhances the ACC’s investigatory powers and functions.
The government took an active role in addressing official corruption through the Public Accounts Committee in the National Assembly and the Royal Audit Authority, which monitored the use of government funds. The ACC is authorized to investigate cases of official corruption and allows citizens to post information on its website regarding corrupt practices. The ACC reportedly faced resource constraints. The constitution enables the ACC to act as an independent body, although its investigative staff was primarily civil servants answerable to the Royal Civil Service Commission. In July the prime minister removed the foreign minister from his post due to a corruption scandal related to a charge of embezzlement of public property during the foreign minister’s past tenure as governor of Haa Province.
The law requires public servants, and persons working for NGOs using public resources, their spouses, and dependents to declare their income, assets, and liabilities.
The constitution mandates a right to information; however, no law provides for public access to government information. Several ministries publish laws, regulations, budgets, and other relevant information on websites to enhance transparency.
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