Fighting corruption in Malta and at European Union levels

Abstract

Undoubtedly, the fight against corruption is no easy job, mainly because of the very secretive nature of such an offence that, at times, makes it next to impossible to detect, especially when hardly anyone files a report with the law enforcement authorities. Hence, new methods need to be identified and devised to fight corruption at a national level and in the European Union whilst at the same time safeguarding human rights, especially the right to a fair and public trial as well as the right to privacy. This is indeed an arduous task for all the public authorities involved in the process. It is hoped, however, with developments taking place in technology and forensic science and with the assistance of new legal provisions being revised on an ongoing basis, that novel and sophisticated laws, policies, strategies, procedures, and other measures may be conceived at national and at EU levels to make it easier for public authorities to catch, prosecute, and condemn fraud perpetrators. Nevertheless, there has to be a harmonious concordance at both these levels in order for law enforcement agencies to succeed in their unenviable task. Typology of the Fight against Corruption: From a legal perspective, corruption can be fought at different levels. Naturally, the first level that comes to mind involves criminal law and criminal procedure. After all, in law corruption is categorised as principally a criminal offence. But it does have a spill-over effect into other branches of the law such as administrative law and civil law.