AmCham Daily Newswire

Cabinet to submit amendments to the Criminal Code to Parliament

Summary: Cabinet discussed amendments to the Criminal Code and will submit them to the Parliament. The amendments include provisions to make bribery a criminal offense and to increase the duration of imprisonment to 6 months, and to pursue criminal charges against officials if they have bought assets at greater than market value with state funds. There is also a provision to change sentencing for crimes that do not cause significant public harm and to require community service instead of jail time. Under the amendments, government officials who have been involved in bribery or have used their position for personal gain will see their right to enter public office again stripped for five years, up from two years under the current provisions of the Criminal Code. The previous draft of the amendments to the Criminal Code reviewed by Cabinet were approved by Parliament in late August, and are set to take effect in July 2017.

Keywords: legal reform, criminal law The National Post /page 1/

Parliamentary standing committees convene to discuss Development Bank investigation results

Summary: Parliament's Legal Standing Committee and Economic Standing Committee convened to discuss the findings of an investigation of Development Bank of Mongolia. The working group who conducted the investigation presented their findings to the members of the standing committees. Vice Minister of Justice and Internal Affairs and the head of the working group B. Enkhbayar said that the bank violated regulations and laws. Members of the standing committees voiced criticisms of the findings, citing that the numbers and figures presented were inaccurate, had a politically biased nature, and that the findings were unprofessional and should not be discussed by Parliament. MP J. Enkhbayar inquired about the members of the working group, and B. Enkhbayar stated, “The team was comprised of 25 members from the Bank of Mongolia and Ministry of Finance. The quality and implementation of the [Development Bank funded] projects were not assessed and 371 projects valued at 3 trillion MNT will be assessed by professional organizations.” The members of the standing committees had heated arguments over the findings and discussions of the investigation results are set to continue.

Keywords: Development Bank, Parliament Today /page A2/

Government discusses building an oil refinery with India’s loan financing

Summary: The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, paid an official visit to Mongolia last year and announced that the Government of India would open a soft loan credit line of 1 billion USD for Mongolia. The original credit line was specifically designated for the development of infrastructure and human resources, but due to recent economic challenges, the Government of Mongolia has asked to change the terms of the credit line. The Government of Mongolia wants to build an oil refinery with the soft loan financing, and Parliament will discuss and vote on the updated terms of the credit line. Remaining funds from the soft loan will be used to finance infrastructure projects in Mongolia.

Keywords: India, oil, foreign loans The Official Gazette /page 1,2/

Registration begins for the DP's chairmanship of race

Summary: Registration for the chairmanship of the Democratic Party election has started. As of today, L. Bold, L. Gantumur, G. Batkhuu, S. Erdene, J. Batzandan, and M. Chimiddorj have submitted their requests to run in the election. A 30-member election commission was established by the party, and the final candidates will start campaigning by December 21. The election will take place on January 29, and the election results will be based on whichever candidate receives the majority vote from registered members of the party. The election commission has required that candidates have been party members in good standing for at least 5 years, and is also requiring that they make a donation of at least 250 million MNT to the party. J. Batzandan has stated that he opposes the requirement to deposit 250-500 million MNT to be eligible to run for the position of party chairman.

Keywords: DPP, party leadership www.news.gogo.mn