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Top 10 Most Corrupt Politician in the World

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Corrupt Politicians

Most Corrupted Politician’s and their Contreversy

The list of the Top 10 Most Corrupt Politicians includes leaders from all over the world, from dictators to democratically elected officials, whose actions have left a trail of scandal and harm. These politicians exemplify the deep-rooted nature of political corruption and its long-lasting impact on society.

This article highlights the most corrupt politicians around the world and explores corruption by some of the world’s most popular politicians and how it affects the systems.

Before you need to go through this article you need to Understand the political Corruption .these people have come to be associated with accusations of graft, embezzlement, and power abuse, and they have had a long-lasting effect on the political environments of the countries in which they operate.

Top 10 Most Corrupt Politician places According to their Wrongdoing and Cottuption

  1. Nawaz Sharif
  2. Vladimir Putin
  3. Salman bin Abdulaziz
  4. Petro Poroshenko
  5. Asif Ali Zardari
  6. Kakuei Tanaka
  7. Kim Jong UN
  8. Khalifa bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan
  9. David Cameron
  10. Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson

1.Nawaz Sharif (Pakistan)

  • Estimated Corrupt Wealth: Billions (Exact figures debated)
  • Time in Power: Multiple terms (1990-1993, 1997-1999, 2013-2017)
  • Corruption Details: Nawaz Sharif was disqualified by Pakistan’s Supreme Court over corruption charges linked to the Panama Papers leak. His family was accused of owning undeclared offshore assets and properties.

Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan’s longest-serving prime minister, has been embroiled in Most corrupted politician in Pakistan his scandals throughout his tenure in office.

These controversies have sparked widespread criticism and raised concerns about the integrity of Pakistan’s government under his leadership.

Nawaz Sharif: The Most Most Corrupt Politician in the World

Nawaz Sherif Political Career
  • Nawaz Sharif, the former Prime Minister of Pakistan, was involved in several scandals throughout his political career.
  • He was linked to the Mehrangate Scandal, where he received 3.5 million from the ISI to fund the election that would secure IJI’s win in the 1990 election.
  • In 2013, he was accused of election tampering by opposition parties, particularly Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
  • The rigging allegations significantly impacted his third term as Prime Minister, damaging his political standing and fostering distrust between the government and the opposition.

The Yellow Cab Scheme, introduced during Sharif’s first term, was a contentious program that provided self-employment opportunities to the youth of Pakistan. The scheme was criticized for its incompetence, corruption, and poor administration.

The Avenfield Apartments Case, resulting from the Panama Paper leaks in 2016 led to Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz, and son-in-law Capt. Safdar being found guilty in 2018. The Hudaibiya Paper Mills case, involving the Sharif family, was also a contentious issue.

The 1999 hijacking incident, known as the “Hijacking of the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) Plane,” was linked to Sharif’s administration’s response to the hijacking crisis. The case led to further scrutiny of his administration, and he was sentenced to 7 years in prison and fined Rs. 1.5 billion.

Flagship Investments, another company linked to Sharif, was also investigated for financial irregularities. Both cases contributed to his political downfall and legal battles.

2. Vladimir Putin (Russia)

  • Estimated Corrupt Wealth: Over $200 billion (alleged)
  • Time in Power: 1999 – Present
  • Corruption Details: Putin is widely suspected of accumulating vast wealth through state control and business favoritism. His administration has faced multiple allegations of financial fraud and suppression of political opposition.

Vladimir Putin Corrupt Politician

One of the most prominent cases is the Magnitsky Act  which was passed in 2012 by the international community, particularly the United States, after Russian lawyer Sergei Magnitsky uncovered a massive Tax fraud scheme involving Russian officials and business people.

Nawaz Sherif Political Corruption

  • In addition to these specific cases, reports and investigations by independent organizations have alleged that Putin has amassed significant personal wealth during his time in office.
  • However, concrete evidence linking Putin to Most corrupt activities remains difficult to obtain due to the opaque nature of Russian politics and the lack of transparency in his finances.
  • The Corruption Perceptions Index consistently ranks Russia as a country with a high level of perceived corruption, with critics arguing that power has been consolidated among a small group of elites who have enriched themselves through questionable means, often involving state resources and contracts.
  • Putin and the Russian government vehemently deny these allegations, often portraying them as politically motivated attacks by Western governments seeking to undermine Russia’s stability and sovereignty.

3. Salman bin Abdulaziz (Saudi Arabia)

  • Estimated Corrupt Wealth: Unverified vast wealth
  • Time in Power: 2015 – Present
  • Corruption Details: The Saudi royal family, including King Salman, has been linked to wealth accumulation through oil revenues and questionable deals. The 2017 anti-corruption purge targeted his rivals rather than addressing systemic corruption.

Salman of Saudi Arabia Politician

  • Saudi Arabia is facing criticism for its lack of transparency in government operations, including the allocation of public funds. The government is accused of using these funds for personal gain and maintaining political power.
  • Additionally, allegations of royal family corruption have been made, including misuse of public funds and contract awards.
  • The lack of accountability has been a major issue in the fight against corruption, with the government accused of protecting corrupt officials and punishing whistleblowers.
  • The allegations of corruption against King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and his government are unsubstantiated, but the lack of transparency and accountability in government operations has been a significant challenge in the fight against corruption in Saudi Arabia, despite the absence of concrete evidence to support these claims.

4. Petro Poroshenko (Ukraine)

  • Estimated Corrupt Wealth: Hundreds of millions
  • Time in Power: 2014 – 2019
  • Corruption Details: Poroshenko, despite his promises to clean up corruption, was accused of using his position to protect oligarch interests, money laundering, and offshore dealings exposed in the Pandora Papers.

Petro Poroshenko – Fifth President of Ukraine

Major Three Points that Petro Poroshenko Accused  for Most Corrupt Politician Alligation

  • One of the most significant controversies was the sale of state-owned confectionery company Roshen confectionery Factory, which he promised to sell to avoid conflicts of interest.
  • However, he faced criticism for not doing so promptly, and the sale took place in 2019 after Poroshenko left office.
  • The Panama Papers leak in 2016 revealed Poroshenko’s offshore assets, raising questions about transparency and financial dealings.

Critics argue that these holdings were part of a legitimate restructuring process for his confectionery business.
Critics also accuse Poroshenko’s administration of failing to address corruption within Ukraine’s government and institutions, despite efforts to establish anti-corruption bodies and enact reforms.

5. Asif Ali Zardari (Pakistan)

  • Estimated Corrupt Wealth: $1 billion+
  • Time in Power: 2008 – 2013
  • Corruption Details: Zardari, former President of Pakistan, earned the nickname “Mr. 10%” due to kickbacks on government contracts. He faced multiple corruption cases, including Swiss bank accounts linked to money laundering.

His presidency was marked by scandals and legal battles, making him one of the most corrupt politician. One of the most significant allegations against Zardari’s money laundering. which he and his late wife, Benazir Bhutto, were accused of in 1998.

The Swiss authorities dropped the case in 2008, but the controversy remained.

Former President of Pakistan

The National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) of 2007 granted amnesty to politicians and officials accused of corruption, including Asif Ali Zardari and other leaders of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP).

However, the NRO was struck down by the Pakistani Supreme Court in 2009, reopening corruption cases against many politicians, including Zardari.One notable corruption case against Zardari was related to Swiss accounts, which was revived in 2013 by Pakistan’s Supreme Court.

Zardari has consistently denied any wrongdoing and claimed the cases were politically motivated. Despite his political career involving legal battles and allegations of corruption, Zardari has never been convicted and maintains his innocence.

6. Kakuei Tanaka (Japan)

  • Estimated Corrupt Wealth: Millions
  • Time in Power: 1972 – 1974
  • Corruption Details: Tanaka was involved in one of Japan’s biggest corruption scandals, the Lockheed bribery case, where he accepted millions in kickbacks from the aerospace company to favor their deals.

Tanaka Kakuei was a Japanese politician who served as the prime minister of Japan from 1972 to 1974. Born in 1918, he was the son of a bankrupt cattle dealer and opened his own construction firm, the Tanaka Civil Engineering Company.

Kakuei Tanaka business prospered during World War II, making him one of the richest men in Japan. He was elected to the lower house of the Diet in 1947 and rose through the ranks of the powerful Liberal-Democratic Party.

Kakuei Tanaka

Tanaka served as minister of international trade and industry in Satō Eisaku’s cabinet from 1964 to 1972. He was a vigorous and popular prime minister, responsible for economic revitalization and diplomatic relations with China. However, Japan’s economic growth slowed and inflation rose during his time in office, leading to his resignation in December 1974.

Tanaka was arrested in 1976 and indicted on charges of accepting $2,000,000 in bribes from Lockheed Aircraft Corporation to influence All Nippon Airways to buy their jet airliners.

Despite the political cloud surrounding him, he continued to rule over the largest faction of the Liberal-Democratic Party and had a major voice in the selection of three subsequent Japanese prime ministers.

After a seven-year trial, Tanaka was convicted in 1983 of bribery and another charge, sentenced to a fine of 500 million yen and four years in prison. He suffered a serious stroke in 1985, and his power and influence waned.

7. Kim Jong Un (North Korea)

  • Estimated Corrupt Wealth: Billions (hidden state assets)
  • Time in Power: 2011 – Present
  • Corruption Details: North Korea’s leader has amassed immense wealth through illicit activities, including drug trafficking, arms deals, and exploitation of state resources while his citizens face extreme pover

Kim Jong-un’s family and inner circle have been accused of corruption, including illicit activities such as siphoning off state funds and engaging in black market activities.

These allegations are often based on defector testimonies and external investigations, making it difficult to independently verify the claims.

Kim Jong UN Leader of North Korea

The North Korean regime has faced accusations of corruption regarding its financing methods for nuclear and missile programs, resulting in international sanctions.

According to experts, the regime employs illicit activities such as counterfeiting currency, cyberattacks, and arms trafficking to evade these sanctions and fund its military initiatives.

The international community has also criticized North Korea’s human rights record, including allegations of forced labor camps, arbitrary detentions, and summary executions.

These violations indicate a regime that prioritizes maintaining control and consolidating power over the well-being of its citizens. However, due to limited information available about North Korea, independently substantiating claims that Kim Jong-un as a Most Corrupt Politician and his government proves challenging.

8. Khalifa bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan (UAE)

  • Estimated Corrupt Wealth: Over $150 billion (Family wealth)
  • Time in Power: 2004 – 2022
  • Corruption Details: The UAE’s ruler was linked to vast offshore assets in the Pandora Papers. The country’s wealth is heavily controlled by the royal family with little transparency.

Corruption allegations against King Khalifa bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and his government in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) include a lack of transparency in government operations, including the allocation of public funds.

The UAE has been accused of using public funds for personal gain and maintaining political power, highlighting the country’s reputation for corruption.

Khalifa bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan

  • In 2009, a video showed Sheikh Issa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, brother of the UAE president, hitting a defenceless man, raising concerns about the involvement of ruling family members in corruption.
  • The Pandora Papers, a collection of secret records, revealed the involvement of Emirati royal families in secret money flows, a concern for anti-corruption groups.
  • The UAE has established anti-corruption mechanisms like the Anti-Bribery Law, but there are reports of legal factors promoting corruption and no independent anti-corruption mechanisms.
  • The UAE’s “free zones” provide tax exemptions and incentives for businesses. The lack of freedom of expression in the country hinders journalists and activists from exposing corruption, with the government accused of punishing whistleblowers and suppressing dissent.

9. David Cameron (United Kingdom)

  • Estimated Corrupt Wealth: Tens of millions (alleged lobbying earnings)
  • Time in Power: 2010 – 2016
  • Corruption Details: Cameron was embroiled in a lobbying scandal involving Greensill Capital, where he used his influence for financial gain. The scandal raised questions about unethical government ties to private.
  • David Cameron, former UK Prime Minister from 2010 to 2016, was embroiled in the political scandal known as the “Panama Papers,” despite not being widely linked to personal corruption allegations during his tenure.

David William Donald Cameron Politician

  • The 2016 Panama Papers leak revealed that David Cameron’s late father, Ian Cameron, established an offshore investment fund in Panama in the 1980s, Blairmore Holdings.
  • Although not illegal, the revelation raised questions about offshore tax arrangements and tax avoidance. David Cameron faced criticism for not being transparent about his family’s financial affairs.

The Panama Papers scandal raised ethical concerns about politicians and their families, particularly regarding tax avoidance and offshore investments.

Critics argued it highlighted a broader issue of financial secrecy and the UK’s offshore territories’ role in facilitating such practices.

David Cameron resigned as Prime Minister in July 2016 following the Brexit referendum, which resulted in the majority of voters supporting the EU’s exit, not due to corruption allegations but political developments and his Brexit stance.

10. Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson (Iceland)

  • Estimated Corrupt Wealth: Unverified offshore holdings
  • Time in Power: 2013 – 2016
  • Corruption Details: Gunnlaugsson resigned after the Panama Papers exposed his offshore holdings, which he had failed to disclose while in office, creating a major scandal in Icelandic politics.

Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson, former Icelandic Prime Minister, was implicated in the 2016 “Panama Papers” scandal, which revealed that he and his wife owned Wintris Inc.

in the British Virgin Islands, linked to Icelandic bank investments that collapsed during the 2008 financial crisis.

Former Prime Minister of Iceland

The revelation led to widespread protests in Iceland, demanding his resignation. In response, Gunnlaugsson temporarily stepped down as Prime Minister in April 2016, handing over his duties to the Deputy Prime Minister. He claimed he had not broken any laws or engaged in corrupt activities.

  • Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson resigned as Prime Minister after the Panama Papers scandal, highlighting concerns about transparency, ethical conduct, and conflicts of interest.
  • Gunnlaugsson’s ownership of an offshore company raised concerns in Iceland, a country severely affected by the 2008 financial crisis.
  • The scandal underscored the public’s demand for greater transparency and accountability from political leaders, particularly in the wake of the Panama Papers scandal.

The Panama Papers leak exposed Icelandic Prime Minister Gunnlaugsson’s ownership of Wintris Inc., raising corruption allegations.

The leak suggested he had not disclosed his financial interests during his tenure, raising concerns about potential conflicts of interest.

The Cost of Corruption

Corruption is a significant obstacle to economic growth, social stability, and human development. It undermines the rule of law, destroys public trust, and sabotages efforts to alleviate poverty.

While many politicians have made it onto the list of the most corrupt, there is one individual whose actions stand out even more than the others. So, who holds the title of the most corrupt politician in the world? To delve deeper into the life and scandalous actions of this figure, read our article on Who is the Most Corrupt Politician in the World?.

Sign up With Malta Bulletin to get More Updates and Witness the spectacular falls of Most corrupt Politicians of All Time

To learn more about how Daniel Coakley’s corrupt practices mirrored those on the global stage, check out our article on America’s Most Corrupt Politician

While corruption is a global issue, it also finds its way into local and national politics. One of the most shocking cases of corruption in America involves Daniel Coakley, a politician whose actions have earned him a place among the most corrupt in the nation’s history. His rise to power and subsequent fall from grace exemplify how corruption can thrive even in democratic systems.

Stay informed, stay vigilant. Follow our ongoing coverage of corruption and politics. Read on to uncover the intriguing details of their downfalls through Malta Bulletin here.

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