Fraud taskforce fundless

PORT MORESBY – With the fight against corruption at its peak in Papua New Guinea, the country’s leading anti-corruption watchdog will not be funded by the national government next year.

Investigation Taskforce Sweep (ITFS) team chairman Sam Koim also revealed the taskforce has been operating without a budget for the past two years despite funding being appropriated for the agency.

Koim said despite these extreme drawbacks, the sweep team continues to function.

“ITFS was allocated K7 million in 2014 followed by K5 million in 2015 through the annual budget. Although the government approved those funds, our attempt in draw-down the funds were ignored.

“In the 2016 Budget which was passed by Parliament on November 3, ITFS was allocated no funds,” said Koim. He said he has written to the Chief Secretary, Treasury Secretary and the Finance Secretary but has not received a favourable reply.

- PNG Post-Courier