A public hearing on the draft law concerning the confiscation and restitution of illegally acquired assets by public officials was held, with significant remarks made by Minister of Justice and Internal Affairs O.Altangerel. The minister highlighted the historical challenges in Mongolia's legal framework for combating corruption, stating, "In the past, corrupt officials were pardoned under the amnesty law, and over 30 trillion MNT were hidden from taxes and social insurance evasion. Illegally acquired assets were exposed under the Economic Transparency Law, but the provisions of the Criminal Code were often bypassed, and assets disappeared."
Minister O.Altangerel emphasized that such circumstances have contributed to widespread corruption, stating that public officials are now often viewed as wealthy, even those without legitimate business ventures but holding high positions. He stressed the need to take action against corrupt officials, saying, "We must seize the assets of corrupt officials, including those who were pardoned in previous years. These assets, which should have been confiscated, will now be reclaimed."
The draft bill advocates for the confiscation of assets from officials who cannot legally justify their income while in office, including members of the parliament, government members, the president, judges of the Supreme Court, Constitutional Court members, and directors of state-owned companies. The bill's central tenet is that unjust enrichment must be halted at its source. The goal is to scrutinize assets that may have been illicitly acquired. If any assets were transferred to family members, such as children, without a legitimate explanation, they will be subject to confiscation.
O.Altangerel further explained that when corruption crimes occur, confiscation of assets will be prioritized, and the bill aims to establish a special fund, with confiscated assets being allocated towards education and healthcare. The discussions surrounding this bill represent a significant step toward addressing corruption in Mongolia and ensuring accountability among public officials.
In the 2023 corruption perceptions index by Transparency International, Mongolia ranked 93rd out of 180 countries, a slight improvement from previous years, 106th in 2019, 111th in 2020, and 110th in 2021. A similar discussion was held in 2022 regarding the draft law on the confiscation and compensation of illegal assets.
Lastly, the minister reassured the public, saying, "This law does not aim to confiscate assets from innocent people. It will only focus on assets linked to corruption, with the review beginning from 2002 onwards." The discussion will further address the implementation of these measures as part of Mongolia's ongoing anti-corruption efforts.
