An overview of the lifestyle audit as a strategy to combat corruption

Abstract

Lifestyle audits are the best method to combat corruption in both the private and public spheres. A lifestyle audit is conducted if a red flag is raised in relation to corruption. Any sudden change in an individual’s lifestyle raises a red flag. However, this type of crime is common among mostly the powerful top officials of organisations, companies or institutions. This paper reviews the use of lifestyle audits as a tool to combat corruption. The researcher adopted a non-empirical research design and followed the predetermined steps properly. Furthermore, merely the literature sources and observations used for arguments and integration purposes with intent to solve the problems identified. Again, the researcher examined some solved corruption cases published in the Auditor General’s report, reported on in newspapers and discussed on social media platforms. To add this, the observation of the published corruption cases used as the examples in this article. The findings of this article suggest that lifestyle auditor or analysts or crime investigators must conduct the lifestyle audit by following the legal proper procedures to avoid the blunders in audit the lifestyle of the offender or suspect. This article concludes by making recommendations of the lifestyle audit needs more auditing and financial investigation skills that are of more advanced.

Keywords: {'name': 'Lifestyle auditing, Net worth, Criminal investigation, Corruption and commercial crime'}

Authors & affiliations

Mokiritlana Given Makola
University of South Africa

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