HIGHLIGHTS OF ANTI-CORRUPTION EFFORTS IN HONDURAS

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 000145 SIPDIS STATE FOR INL/C/CP (MRIGGS AND RWERKSMAN),WHA/PPC (KHAMANN) STATE FOR WHA/USOAS (MSTICKLES) AND WHA/CEN STATE PASS AID FOR LAC/CEN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KCRM SNAR KJUS PGOV EAID PREL HO SUBJECT: HIGHLIGHTS OF ANTI-CORRUPTION EFFORTS IN HONDURAS REF: A. 02 STATE 261607 ¶B. 02 TEGUCIGALPA 01927 (ALL NOTAL) In July 2002 Post submitted Ref B, which contains detailed information regarding anti-corruption efforts and achievements in Honduras. In December 2002, the National Congress approved the creation of a Tribunal Superior de Cuentas (TSC) - a new three (3) member panel selected by Congress to oversee all corruption investigations and trials. The TSC has brought the Comptroller General of the Republic, the Directorate of Administrative Probity, and the Office of State Assets under one roof and under the direction of the panel. In October 2002, the Supreme Court dismissed the entire three (3) judge Court of Appeals after one of its members publicly accused another judge of accepting a bribe for his ruling in a case. Other than these two incidents, there have been no significant other anti-corruption efforts to report. Palmer