Corruption among political figures has been a persistent issue worldwide, undermining governance and public trust. Here are some of the most notorious cases from recent history, along with the countries they represented:
1. Mohamed Suharto (Indonesia) Served as President from 1967 to 1998. Suharto's regime was marked by widespread corruption, with estimates suggesting he embezzled between $15 billion to $35 billion.
2. Ferdinand Marcos (Philippines) President from 1965 to 1986, Marcos and his wife, Imelda, were infamous for their extravagant lifestyle funded by state coffers. They allegedly siphoned off between $5 billion to $10 billion during his rule.
3. Mobutu Sese Seko (Democratic Republic of Congo) Ruler from 1965 to 1997, Mobutu institutionalized corruption, amassing a personal fortune estimated at $5 billion while his country languished in poverty.
4. Sani Abacha (Nigeria) As military head of state from 1993 to 1998, Abacha looted an estimated $2 billion to $5 billion from Nigeria's treasury.
5. Slobodan Milošević (Serbia/Yugoslavia) President during the 1990s, Milošević was implicated in corruption and embezzlement, with estimates of stolen funds reaching up to $1 billion.
6. Nawaz Sharif (Pakistan) Three-time Prime Minister, Sharif was disqualified in 2017 over corruption charges linked to the Panama Papers, revealing his family's offshore holdings.
7. Vladimir Putin (Russia) Accusations have been leveled against Putin regarding corruption and accumulation of wealth, though concrete evidence remains elusive due to the opaque nature of Russia's political system.
8. Rodrigo Duterte (Philippines) Former President Duterte was arrested in March 2025 on accusations of crimes against humanity linked to his "war on drugs," highlighting issues of extrajudicial killings and human rights abuses.
9. Donald Trump (United States) The former U.S. President has faced numerous allegations, including misuse of power and conflicts of interest, particularly concerning his business dealings while in office.
10. Jair Bolsonaro (Brazil) During his presidency, Bolsonaro faced criticism for undermining environmental protections and allegedly facilitating corruption within his administration.
These cases underscore the pervasive challenge of political corruption and the importance of transparency and accountability in governance.
Most Corrupt Political Figures In The World And The Countries They Represent..