Zambia: State Acts to Curb Fraud in Construction Industry - THE Government has put in place mechanisms to detect fraud and malpractices in the construction industry, Works and Supply Deputy Minister, Christopher Kalila has said. [AA Construction]

An Ivorian court decision to transfer $45 million intended for the victims of the Trafigura toxic waste disaster to a group falsely claiming to represent them is a travesty of justice, Amnesty International said today.

The organization called for an immediate stay on the court's decision so that the money is not transferred before the victims have a chance to appeal.

In late 2009, a group known as the National Coordination of Toxic Waste Victims of Côte d'Ivoire (CNVDT-CI) claimed that it represented some 30,000 victims who had brought a court case against Trafigura in the UK. The claimants and Trafigura had reached an out-of-court settlement for $45 million in September 2009.

All of the claimants in the case were actually represented by UK lawyer Martyn Day of Leigh Day & Co. Amnesty International has seen no credible evidence to support CNVDT-CI's claim and considers it a blatant attempt to perpetrate fraud.

An appeal court today ruled that the $45 million, paid by Trafigura and intended for the victims, should be transferred to CNVDT-CI's bank account.

Uganda: Two Suspects Held over Fake Cement - THE police in Kampala are holding two men suspected of manufacturing fake cement. Robert Rwekwema, the director of Royal Tech Services, a company based in Mutungo, Nakawa division and his employee, Mark Ssembera, were taken to Jinja Road Police Station on Saturday. [AA Construction]

Liberia: Broh Raids Heavily-Populated 'Peoples Building' - Liberia's foremost anti-impunity campaign group, The Movement Forum for the Establishment of a war Crimes Court in Liberia, the anti-war advocacy wing of the Progressive Action for Change, has strongly condemn recent attacks on the populated residence of 'People's building' where state security under the command of Madam Mary Broh burglarized private homes under the guise of launching a clean-up campaign. [AA Urbanisation]

Tanzania: 'Liyumba Was the Key Person' - Former Bank of Tanzania (BoT) director personnel and administration Amatus Liyumba was a key coordinator in the twin tower project, the Kisutu resident magistrate court heard yesterday. [AA Construction]

Kenya: Buildings Disastrous - All mayors, town clerks, engineers, architects, planners and other officials who allow developers to get away with murder, literally, should also be in the dock when any criminal charges are filed. [AA Construction]

Follow the Trafigura Scandal in real time on Google News. Trafigura's Bribery & Corruption Antics in South Africa

THE PSYCHOPATHS: Claude Dauphin | Leon Christophilopoulos | James McNicol | THE EVIDENCE | THE FACTS

Nigeria: Kano May Use Pfizer Compensation to Build Hospital - Kano state government may use part of 75million Pfizer compensation funds to build a hospital in the state. [AA Construction]

Global Witness to testify at Financial Services Committee Congressional Hearing

WASHINGTON DC: Some of the world's major banks, including Barclays and Citibank, have been facilitating corruption and undermining development in some of the worst-governed countries in the world, campaigning organisation Global Witness will testify to the U.S. House of Representatives' Financial Services Committee today (May 19).

Global Witness lead investigator, Anthea Lawson, will tell Committee members, including Chairman Barney Frank, that a catalogue of failures in the design and enforcement of anti-money laundering laws has enabled banks to help politicians from some of the world's most corrupt regimes to use government money to fund lavish lifestyles, while their populations live in poverty.

"The key factors allowing banks to do business with corrupt regimes are precisely those which allowed banks to destabilize the U.S. and other major economies […] People now agree that we need to reassess the way we regulate banks. We must also take this opportunity to tackle the way banks facilitate corruption, and thus help fuel poverty," said Ms Lawson.

Zambia: Chipata Council Fraud Laid Bare - THE Chipata Municipal Council has unearthed a scam in which some employees in the accounts department have defrauded the local authority of millions of Kwacha through non-banking and issuing of fake receipts. [AA Urbanisation]

Nigeria: Construction Firm, Ex-Presidential Aide Named in Halliburton Scam - A foreign construction company operating in Nigeria has been implicated in the $180 million Halliburton bribe scandal. [AA Construction]

Liberia: The Crusaders - Against-Garbage And Now Crime - The two women stood in the midst of the crowd, an all too familiar scene now, to which they are accustomed. [AA Urbanisation]

Liberia: Mary Broh Demolishes "110 Street, Poli-Bureau" in Clara Town - Madam Mary Broh and her team, assisted by a bulldozer over the week end demolished several structures on "110 street" in Clara Town on Bushrod Island in Monrovia. "110 street" is a haven for harden criminals, seasoned prostitutes and ghettoes guys. [AA Urbanisation]

Nigeria: Vandals Besiege Nnamani's N1Billion Mansion in Enugu - Vandals are now on a looting spree at the palatial mansion of the former Enugu State Governor, Chimaroke Nnamani. [AA Urbanisation]