Crime in the public sector : trends and implication for the performance of the sector

Abstract

The technical paper recognizes crime as an unavoidable societal evil which has an overlapping nature both in the public and private sectors. It defines Public Sector Crimes (PSC) and offers reasons why they constitute a problem which deserves attention. Working within the dictates of its purpose and objectives, it explains the occurrence of PSC within the concepts and principles of the following theories: The Big Chief Social Expectation Theory; The African Culture of Appreciation Theory; and Minimal Remuneration Theory. Having established the basis for understanding the nature of PSC, the paper utilizes Content Analysis, a research technique, to document them from current literature. Each of the crimes is defined in legal terms (penal code) and discussed with examples of would-be offenders. Crimes include, but are not limited to: corruption and bribery, embezzlement, misappropriation of public funds, smuggling, extortion, forgery of official acts, removal and destruction of public records/copies of government papers, perjury, false expert reports, favours, fraud at examinations and breach of seals, failure to report deficiency, indulgence, conflict of interest, failure to register birth, marriage and death, negligent custody and receiving/fencing.