Lithuanians: customs most corrupt institution

Jan 19, 2005
From wire reports

VILNIUS - A poll published in the beginning of December revealed that Lithuanians see customs as the most corrupt governmental organization.
The World Corruption Barometer 2004 survey, conducted annually by Transparency International, showed that Lithuanians regarded customs, political parties, Parliament and the courts as the country’s most corrupt institutions.

On a scale of five – with one denoting no corruption and five standing for the highest level of corruption – Lithuanians gave customs 4.3 points, while political parties, the national legislature and courts were given 4.2 points.

Also on the list were police (4.1 points), health care workers (3.8 points), tax inspectors and business sector (3.5 points), media (3.2 points), education system (3 points), registration and permit services (2.9 points), nongovernmental organizations (2.8 points), utility companies (2.7 points), army (2.4 points) and religious institutions (2.3 points).

The World Corruption Barometer 2004, which was issued on the United Nations Anti-Corruption Day, showed that many countries see political parties as most corrupt institutions. In 36 out of the 62 polled countries, parties were rated as most corrupt, receiving an average of 4 points globally.

The respondents described political corruption as a serious problem in their country, saying corruption had done more damage to politics than business or private life.

On the World Corruption Barometer 2004, political parties are followed by parliaments, police and courts.

In five countries – Cameroon, Kenya, Lithuania, Moldova and Nigeria – at least every third respondent said he or his family had paid a bribe in the past 12 months.

More than 50,000 people from 62 countries were questioned in the survey in June-August.

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