Two cases of political corruption involve the countries of South Africa and Costa Rica. The first involved a scam surrounding arms deals, and the second a case that involved bribery and the corrupt finance of political figures. The man under investigation in South Africa about six years ago was then the deputy president. Now he is the president of South Africa, Jacob Zuma. During that time he was investigated for the solicitation of a bribe. He alleged approached the then head of the branch of the South African Arms corporation, Thomson. This was to be in exchange for his protection of that company from governmental investigation.

The judicial system and the prosecutor, Bulelani Ngcuka dropped the case in August of 2003, stating that there was strong evidence, they–the government could not be certain that they would be able to win the case. One businessman who was closely connected to Zuma at the time, Schabir Shaikh, was investigated as well. And through his investigation it was made apparent just what Zuma had gained through monetary means and benefits that he had received.

Another case of political corruption involved the president of Costa Rica. In 2004 Miguel Angel Rodriquez resigned his position of the Secretary General of a group known as the Organization of American States. He was accused of bribery scams that involved the telecommunications company from France, Alcatel. This was a cell phone company that had been given a contract that set to improve the Costa Rican cell phone systems.

It was alleged that the company bribed Rodriquez’s former electric company manager, of Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad, Jose Antonio Lobo, in order to be awarded the contract. The amount of the bribe was said to be just under two and half million American dollars. Lobe claimed that Rodriguez advised him to accept the bribe. Rodriguez then demanded sixty percent of that amount. Cases such as these are constantly being investigated, in an attempt to take corruption out of the political arena, for the good of the country these leaders are running, and for the good of all countries throughout the world.