Transparency International has given its anti-corruption Integrity Awards to the late Russian lawyer Sergej Magnitskij, Grégory Ngbwa Mintsa from Gabon and Attotage Prema Jayantha from Sri Lanka. The prize, awarded for the tenth time, aims to honour those who combat corruption, often with enormous courage and at their own peril.

Mr Magnitskij was a witness in a law suit brought against Russian civil servants accused of accepting two million euros in bribes. Subsequently, he himself was tried on charges of plotting against the state. He died in 2008 while in detention, allegedly after medical care was withheld.

Grégory Ngbwa Mintsa, who works for Transparency International, began legal proceedings in France after an investigation revealed that a number of African leaders, including the president of Gabon, owned luxury real-estate in France. According to Transparency International he was threatened and arrested. Earlier this month, the French Supreme Court ruled that the investigation into the allegations could go ahead.

Attotage Prema Jayantha, better know as Poddala, has been probing government corruption in Sri Lanka for more than 20 years. His inquiries focus on corruption in health care, education and public transport.