International Anti-Corruption Court 鈥榰rgently needed鈥�
Corruption has "devastating consequences鈥� with international impacts, says Judge Mark Wolf.
Senior US District Court Judge Mark Wolf has called for the establishment of an International Anti-Corruption Court to address the abuse of office for private gain by the world's kleptocrats.
Speaking to the 大象传媒 Hardtalk programme's Zeinab Badawi, Judge Wolf said that corruption has devastating consequences that have an international impact. Although 181 countries are party to the UN Convention against Corruption, with laws making corrupt conduct by officials illegal, the problem persisted, he said.
"Grand corruption doesn't thrive because of a lack of laws," Judge Wolf said. "But those laws are not enforced in the countries that kleptocrats rule because they control the police, the prosecutors and the courts. Therefore, the International Anti-Corruption Court is needed as a court of last resort to enforce those laws".
"Where the rest of us might fear being punished if we violate the law, the people who rule these countries, these kleptocrats, have impunity because they control the courts (often corrupt themselves) and won't permit the honest, effective investigation, prosecution and punishment of their families, their friends and themselves."
Judge Wolf chairs Integrity Initiatives International which was set up to strengthen international laws to hold corrupt leaders to account and is a leading advocate for the creation of an International Anti-Corruption Court.
