ON THE MONEY TRAIL: Corruption in the news - Jan. 15

MOSCOW - The lower house of the Russian Parliament – the State Duma – begins its spring session on Tuesday with deputies expected to consider dozens of bills before parliament goes into summer recess in June, the Voice of Russia news website reports. One of the bills to be discussed bans officials from purchasing property and having bank accounts abroad as part of the government’s campaign against corruption, the website said.

JAKARTA - Indonesia’s Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has filed a new charge of money laundering against the former chief of the National Police Traffic Corps, Djoko Susilo, The Jakarta Post reports. Under the country’s money laundering law, judges can order defendants to provide evidence that their wealth was not acquired through illicit means, the newspaper said.

PRAGUE - The core of the corruption problem in the Czech Republic is the operation of political parties and the work of state bodies related to public tenders, according to the state anti-corruption strategy for 2013-2014, a document made available to Czech newswire CTK. The new anti-corruption strategy will be presented by Deputy Prime Minister Karolina Peake, in charge of anti-corruption measures, later on Tuesday, CTK said.

SYDNEY - Australian authorities have swooped on a courier accused of importing drugs with the alleged help of Sydney Airport Customs officers, The Age reports. Among other developments in the growing Customs corruption scandal, it is understood that up to four Customs officers suspected of involvement in serious corruption remain working at the airport, the newspaper said.