Transparency NGO reprimands police boss

PAPUA NEW GUINEA – Transparency International PNG has called on the Police Commissioner of Papua New Guinea to immediately reopen the National Fraud and Anti-Corruption Directorate .

TI PNG chairman, Lawrence Stephens, made the call following the shutting down and locking up of the National Fraud and Anti-Corruption Directorate at the direction of the police commissioner.

Stephens has urged Police Commissioner Gary Baki to refrain from giving instructions to police officers which would, if obeyed, expose them to the risk of being charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice.

“In our role as a civil society organisation dealing with issues of corruption, we are aware of the important work of the Fraud and Anti-Corruption Directorate, the huge case load it is handling and the powers it exercises.

“We are also aware that the administrative powers of police leadership are very distinct from the obligations of individual police officers to serve the people of PNG,” Stephens said

Stephens pointed out that: “Individual police officers are sworn to serve the independent state of Papua New Guinea and its people and to the constitution of Papua New Guinea. Various court rulings have educated the police about their obligations in the light of their declaration and the meaning of their powers.

“The National Fraud and Anti-Corruption Directorate is the property of the people of PNG and on behalf of the people we call upon the Police Commissioner rescind the instruction to lock down that office,” Stephens said. “TI PNG is seeking legal advice before for approaching the courts for rulings on the appropriate response to efforts to subvert the legal authority of office holders.” - PNG Today

Baki sets up official inquiry into fraud office

PAPUA NEW GUINEA – Papua New Guinea’s Police Commissioner Gari Baki has appointed Assistant Commissioner Operations David Manning to head an internal inquiry into the operations of the National Fraud and Anti-Corruption Directorate.

Baki announced yesterday that he used his powers under sections 14 and 153 of the Police Act and section 198 of the PNG Constitution to establish the inquiry.

He also took into consideration the Supreme Court decision in 2014 in its decision on the powers, functions, duties and responsibilities of the POlice Commissioner.

Yesterday Baki said the inquiry would be to investigateand ascertain whether the officers of the National Fraud and Anti-Corruption Directorate were impartial and objective in the discharge of their duties as fraud investigators.

It will ascertain also whether the directorate was operating in accordance with proper police practices and procedures, he said.

These practices included being accountable to the Office of the Commissioner “in so far as the superintendence, efficient organisation, and control of the force is concerned”.

Baki said the inquiry would be conducted by Manning and the special police investigations team and assisted by the Internal Affairs Directorate. The investigation team will complete its work within four weeks.

- Post-Courier