C4 centre calls for clear policy before considering use of deferred prosecution agreements with companies.
The use of deferred prosecution agreements, as suggested recently by the head of MACC, could be a good tool against corruption, say campaigners.
Pushpan Murugiah, CEO of the C4 anti-corruption centre, said deferred prosecution should be implemented in tandem with existing provisions rather than being relied on as the only form of legal recourse. “One of the key components is that there must be an admission of guilt by the company that an offence has been committed,” he told FMT.
MACC chief Azam Baki was quoted recently as saying that use of the mechanism, used in countries such as the US, France, Canada, Singapore, and Australia, could streamline prosecution by avoiding lengthy, cumbersome, and costly trials.