Judiciary most corrupt: TIB

The judiciary is the most corrupt service sector, says a Transparency International, Bangladesh (TIB) household survey report. FULL STORY

Dhaka, Dec 23 (bdnews24.com) –The judiciary is the most corrupt service sector, says a Transparency International, Bangladesh (TIB) household survey report.

The Berlin-based corruption whistleblower in its report 'Corruption in Service Sectors: National Household Survey 2010' says among the judiciary, the High Court is where exchange of kickback takes place the most.

TIB executive director Iftekharuzzaman revealed the report at a roundtable held at the auditorium of Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS), Dhaka on Thursday.

The survey was conducted on 6,000 households in 64 districts from June 2009-May 2010.

The report says 88 percent households of the country have been victims to judicial corruption while 79.7 percent have suffered due to corruption in other law-enforcing agencies.

Besides, 71.2 percent households have suffered due to corruption in land administration, 51.3 percent for taxation and value added tax (VAT) while 45.9 percent for corruption in power sector.

Each of the household paid Tk 7,918 in bribes on average to the judiciary, a bigger chunk of which was spent in the High Court.

The report says 73.6 percent households gave bribes to the High Court, 58.9 percent to the Magistrate's Court and 58.4 percent exchange bribes at the Judge's Court.

Of them, each household provided Tk 12,761 on average to the High Court, Tk 6,598 to the Magistrate's Court and Tk 6,178 to the Judge's Court.

Other than these, 56.3 percent household had to pay bribes for quick disposal of cases while another 32.7 percent bribed to manipulate verdicts.

The TIB conducted a similar survey in 2007, the results of which showed that judicial corruption stood at 47.7 percent while 96.6 percent corruption by law enforcers.

The new survey shows corruption has declined amongst law enforcers while judicial corruption marked a rise.

According to the report, corruption is higher in rural areas as 87.5 percent of the households in villages face corruption while only 79.3 percent in urban areas.

Service sector-wise analysis, however, shows law enforcers were ahead in taking bribes while illegal money collection 68.1 percent. Land administration followed closely with 67 percent, while judiciary 59.6 percent and income tax, VAT and excise division 43.9 percent.

The report also says the total estimated bribes and amount of illegal money collection nationally was Tk 95.91 billion, which averaged Tk 3,184 per household.

bdnews24.com/rb/skb/shk/pks/rn/mr/11910h