Beningo Aquino claims that the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) he set up as president was meant to stimulate economic growth – but the Philippines Supreme Court has ruled instead it was unconstitutional and used as a weapon against his enemies.

An American computer and network security company said it has uncovered a significant “malware-based fraud ring” that sought to take in online payment transactions made by Brazilians, confirmed in a blog on the website of RSA Security.

Jana Nečasová, chief of staff and former mistress to former Czech prime minister Petr Nečas, was charged with abuse of power on Monday for ordering surveillance on the prime minister’s wife and two coworkers who may have known she and Nečas were having an affair, the Prague Post reports.

Three officials linked to Zhou Yongkang, a former member of the Politburo Standing Committee (PSC), were ousted Wednesday from the ruling Communist Party for corruption.

Nicolas Sarkozy is denying all charges of influence-peddling and benefiting from violations of professional secrecy, reports Reuters.

After lengthy negotiations, BNP Paribas has pleaded guilty to violating US sanctions against Iran, Sudan, and Cuba, put in place by the US Justice Department to trap other large firms and banks within the industry. The plea resulted in an US$8.9 billion penalty, reported The New York Times.

Authorities in El Salvador are investigating the possible role of death squads in a spate of recent murders of gang members, the clearest indication yet that gang violence has led to extrajudicial killings in the country.

Indonesia’s anti-corruption court has sentenced the former head of the Indonesian Constitutional Court Akil Mochtar to life in prison for bribery and money laundering, the Corruption Eradication Commission confirmed.

Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy was detained today by French anti-corruption police for allegedly abusing his political power.

A Supreme Court judge has accused Vice President Amado Boudou of bribery and abuse of office in connection with his acquisition in bankruptcy proceedings of a company that printed Argentina’s currency when he was the economic minister.