For centuries, the above statement has arrogantly stood the test of time, as covetousness has led to the most unimaginable dark tangled plots into the very minds of humans, wrenching them from an honest existence, to loot their own people and country, all in the holy name of Corruption. Ironically, Corruption is one of the few things in life which does not discriminate in terms of nationality, gender, race, colour or creed! Corruption has this rather unique attribute of uniting the bloodthirsty souls whose sole purpose is to do anything it takes to fill their pockets.
As the smell of crisp bank notes and the jingling sound of shiny coins prove to be too irresistible, the level of human decay in the midst of the international corruption club has been slowly but surely exposed. While some are snared by the long arm of the law (for instance, Chinese tycoon Liu Han who was executed in 2015), the majority manages to get away scot-free by covering their tracks, finding the tiniest loopholes, having the right friends in the right places, using subtle and not-so-subtle threats to shush potential whistle-blowers. And this constitutes the real tragedy. The victims are the vulnerable people who are robbed of another chance at life, the hardworking people who become disillusioned and our children who are left with just a handful of honest role-models.
So, while the future looks gloomy, with Corruption showing no sign of stopping its progression, gnawing away the hope that binds Humanity, there might be a meagre consolation if rapacious people could at least begin to realise that they are far from being immortal and cannot run away from the grasp of justice forever. Accountability may happen at any point, even beyond the confines of this world.
This is aptly depicted in the following quote from Shakespeare’s Hamlet:
“In the corrupted currents of this world,
Offence’s gilded hand may shove by justice,
And oft is seen the wicked prize itself
Buys out the law. But ’tis not so above.”
(Hamlet Act 3, sc. 3)