Afghanistan among most corrupt states: Survey

KABUL‘s people believe that corruption and bribery has increased over the past two years, revealed a global survey released on Tuesday.

Respondent voiced grave concern at bribery in Afghanistan and Sierra Leone, which ranged from 39 percent to 75 percent.

“Corruption in the land sector is particularly critical in post-conflict societies and countries in transition,” the report said, stressing transparent and efficient land management to rebuild and reconstruct the country.

Australia, Belgium, Portugal, Malaysia, Finland, Denmark and Croatia were at the other end of the spectrum, reporting a bribery rate of less than five percent

The latest study by the Berlin-based Transparency International, surveying 114,000 people across 107 countries, found a lack of confidence in police, courts, political parties and other institutions.

Respondents in 36 countries viewed police as the most corrupt, 20 countries saw the judiciary as the worst and 51 blamed political parties. Twenty-seven percent of people polled admitted to having paid a bribe in the past 12 months.

Huguette Labelle, Transparency International chairperson, said: “Bribe paying levels remain very high worldwide, but people believe they have the power to stop corruption…”

PAN Monitor/mud